The Department of Tourism and Cayman Airways have shown us how they can work together for the good of the country’s coffers.
Plans were announced Wednesday to begin a route between Grand Cayman and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
While the deal is subject to regulatory approval, we’re confident such a route will be used by residents and folks from up north as well.
The numbers show it as a win-win situation.
The New York area is the single largest source market for the Cayman Islands tourism industry.
More than 30 per cent of all US air arrival visitors come from the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
But it’s not just for tourists.
We have many employed in the financial sector here and in the tri-state area of New York that make frequent business trips.
Having a direct route from Grand Cayman to New York and vice-versa will be at least a time-saving, if not a cost-saving, measure.
In addition to adding a service to workers, residents and visitors, the move to offer a direct route to New York will hopefully put Cayman Airways on a more solid foothold when it comes to the national carrier’s profitability.
With the introduction of a direct flight to New York, Cayman Airways is getting rid of its flights to Boston and Fort Lauderdale.
Bostonians who want to come down to our paradise can easily travel to JFK in Jamaica, Queens, New York to catch a CAL flight to Grand Cayman.
And folks in Ft. Lauderdale aren’t really out of CAL service either. Miami’s international airport is so close to Ft. Lauderdale that service to both cities is redundant.
While we don’t know how much the airfare for the Grand Cayman to New York and return flights will be, we’re sure it will turn into a benefit to users.
Add to that the cash infusion the three weekly flights will give to CAL and you’ve got an idea whose time has come.
We can be confident that neither the Department of Tourism nor the CAL Board of Directors are resting on their laurels following this announcement.
We’re sure they’re looking at other air routes that have the potential to be profitable to the airline and the country.
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