A corner of Texas briefly became Caymanian over the weekend with the launch of Cayman Airways’ new weekly service to Austin.
Passengers were treated to a swirling Cayman quadrille and the upbeat sounds of the Swanky Kitchen Band echoing through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport before boarding the full-capacity flight to Grand Cayman.
The celebrations continued during the three-hour flight with an onboard quiz, complimentary champagne, swanky and Cayman Airways’ signature rum punch.
Cayman’s national carrier announced the new route at the start of the year, saying that its research had identified Austin as one of the largest unserved US markets for Cayman travel with especially strong demand during the summer period. The direct route will also do away with the need for one or more connections through major US hubs for American tourists.
Opening ceremony
Members of the Cabinet including Planning Minister Jay Ebanks, Tourism Minister Gary Rutty and Parliamentary Secretary Heather Bodden attended a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony at Owen Roberts International Airport early on Sunday, 24 May before flying to Austin to perform a similar route-opening ceremony there.
Addressing the crowd at Austin, Rutty drew a laugh when he quipped, “When I took up office last year, one of the things that I said to my fellow colleagues on the team was that if America can go to the moon, Cayman can take the turtle to Austin.”
The minister went on to thank the airport, the airline and other partners for making the new route possible, saying, “Airlift partnerships don’t happen by chance. They are built through vision, collaboration and a shared belief in the value of connection between communities and countries, and that’s what we’re celebrating today.”
He said that both places were known for “their warmth, creativity, hospitality and vibrant cultures”, and that Texas had long been an important market for the Cayman Islands, representing 11.5% of all US visits to the Islands, making it the highest-performing state.
“What is even more remarkable,” he said, “is that Austin accounts for roughly 14% of all Texan visitations to Cayman, and that was just before the convenience of this new nonstop service [which] tells us that Austinites were already discovering and falling in love with the Cayman Islands.”
Ghizlane Badawi, chief executive officer of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, said it was an exciting day for the airport, adding, “Thank you, Cayman, for selecting us, creating a convenient new gateway to one of the Caribbean’s premier destinations, known for its crystal-clear waters, world-class diving and vibrant culture.”
Tourism potential
David Ritch, Cayman Airways chairman, said the route represented a strategic opportunity for the Cayman Islands and for Cayman Airways, adding, “Austin is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic cities in the United States. It is a market filled with opportunity, innovation, strong tourism potential and travellers who are looking for authentic vacation experiences. For the Cayman Islands, this service helps diversify and strengthen our visitor base, particularly during the summer travel season.”
Ritch added, “It creates new opportunities for our tourism partners, our businesses and our wider economy, plus it provides a new and exciting destination for Cayman residents to explore, with easy nonstop flights close to home.”
Cayman Islands Department of Tourism director Rosa Harris added, “Air service development is one of the most important things that we can do for Cayman.
“It’s our survival for the tourism industry, in particular, and the broader economic resilience for our country, as we see the threats and the tremors across the world.”
Harris added, “A flight has the power to turn one sleepy island into a global tourism and financial powerhouse, and that’s what we have done here in Cayman – to turn vacation dreams into reality, to foster global connections and to drive economic growth for our people.”
The weekly service will operate every Sunday.
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But why Austin? Why did Cayman choose the smelly armpit of Texas? So many other far better city’s to choose from. But, Austin? Argggg
“The full capacity flight to Cayman”, how many passengers were actually paying for their flight?.. It would be very interesting to have CAL reveal the load factors on it’s flights including domestic flights, based on fare paying passengers.