JetBlue makes inaugural flight to SVG with Vincentian crew

The photo on the left shows some Vincetians who served as crew members on the inaugural JetBlue flight. Image by VC3.

By Admin. Updated 4:47 p.m., Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

U.S.-based airline JetBlue commenced service to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) today (October 9) with much of its crew being Vincentians.

The airline is set to offer twice-weekly non-stop flights from JFK International Airport in New York to the Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent, with the operational days being Wednesdays and Sundays.

The flight arrived here with visitors, returning nationals, and media and sports personnel.

At a ceremony at Argyle International Airport to mark the inaugural flight, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development, and Culture – Carlos James welcomed the airline’s presence in St. Vincent and the Grenadines which he said came to being as a result of a strategic partnership.

“What we are seeing now with our tourism drive is to simply have more traffic, more volume coming to the island. We are doing so strategically, and in fact, the relationship with JetBlue is a strategic one, and is an important one because with the emergence of JetBlue within this market, it has already started to have ripple effect,” Mr. James said.

“We are seeing other airlines are doubling flights, they are reducing rates, and competition is good for business. it allows the customers the passengers and the visitors to have accessible and more affordable access to the destination,” he added.

David Jehn, Vice President of Network Planning and Airline Partnerships at JetBlue said: “We are thrilled to be here today to celebrate JetBlue’s inaugural flight from St. Vincent and the Grenadines to JFK”

He described St. Vincent and Grenadines as the quintessential Caribbean Paradise.

“We are one of the largest carriers in the northeast. We have an incredible customer base, and we always want to introduce new options to our customers. We want to fly where our customers want to fly and that’s why we are here today in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Mr. Jehn said.

He said: “ St. Vincent and the Grenadines known for their warm, hospitality, volcanic, landscapes, black sand beaches, white sand, beaches, pristine sailing waters – the quintessential Caribbean Paradise.

He said the airline believes that customers should not have to choose between low fares and great service will offer flights for USD $139, one way, when booked on JetBlue’s website.

He said this new service not only provides nonstop service to New York but also connects Service beyond JFK to the other destinations that we serve.

JetBlue now joins American Airlines and Air Canada from North America, and Caribbean Airlines which serves the New York to SVG route.

The other international carrier that operates at the seven-year-old Argyle International Airport is Virgin Atlantic which services the United Kingdom route.