Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicosIslands, February 14, 2024 – The American Midwest market is interested in the Turks and Caicos, so much so that two seasonal routes have opened from Minneapolis in January; whether the country is ready or not. 

Delta Airlines and Sun Country Airlines arrived in the Turks and Caicos within hours of each other on Saturday, January 20, carrying a combined 292 passengers on their respective new Minneapolis to Providenciales routes. 

While Sun Country is a returning seasonal route, the Delta Airlines flight was new to the Turks and Caicos and therefore met with water cannons. Sent to run until April, the Delta flight will cover practically the entire winter season for tourism. It was a prospect that particularly excited stakeholders

“Minneapolis-Saint Paul, known as the Twin Cities, boasts a collective population exceeding three million residents and is home to 15 Fortune 500 companies: Target, Best Buy, 3M, and General Mills. Minneapolis is also one of Delta’s busiest hubs with booking data showing that more than 9.5 million passengers will depart and connect via Minneapolis in 2023, ” said Experience Turks and Caicos representatives in a subsequent press release. 

Silver Airways and Virgin Atlantic also began routes to Providenciales in the last quarter of 2023. 

As flights to the Turks and Caicos increase, the government is under pressure to quickly resolve issues at the airport.