A new, year-round daily flight service from the USA to Grand Cayman is to start on 9 February.
Tourism Minister Charles Clifford told the Legislative Assembly that Spirit Airlines, the largest privately owned airline in the United States, would be running the jet service.
Speaking in the House on Monday, Mr. Clifford said that Spirit, which serves 26 destinations with 125 daily flights, would be flying here from Fort Lauderdale.
Mr. Clifford said he was pleased to report that Spirit had made the decision despite the fact that its request for a waiver of landing fees and airport charges for the first six months was not approved by the Cayman Islands Airports Authority.
‘In keeping with this government’s stated policy and in recognition of the fact that we have a national flag carrier, we will not subsidise the operational expenses of foreign carriers,’ he told the House.
Mr. Clifford said he was also pleased that Spirit Airlines, which operates a fleet of Airbus A319s, A321s and MD-80s, had responded positively to his request for them to consider a partnership with Cayman Airways.
He expected that both carriers would work together to increase the benefits to the Cayman Islands.
‘There is no doubt that Spirit Airlines entry into the Cayman market will create additional competition for all other carriers servicing our destination, including Cayman Airways, but it is also recognised that this competition will create the environment which will drive additional business to our destination,’ said Mr. Clifford.
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