Caribbean News
Spirit Airlines begins new nonstop flights between Orlando and St. Thomas
#St. Thomas, November 9, 2018 – U.S. Virgin Islands – U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth E. Mapp and Lieutenant Governor Obsert E. Potter, members of the Virgin Islands Port Authority and the Department of Tourism welcomed the inaugural Spirit Airlines flight from Orlando to St. Thomas on its touchdown this afternoon.
Spirit flight 284, with a full flight of 145 passengers, landed at Cyril E. King International Airport shortly before 3 p.m to a traditional water cannon salute. The Airbus 319 was greeted with a Carnival-themed welcome, Cruzan rum samples for passengers and warm Virgin Islands hospitality. Four travel bloggers and social media influencers arrived on the flight and will spend a few days on the island experiencing the attractions on St. Thomas, as well as taking a day trip to St. John.
Spirit Airlines will operate three flights a week between Orlando and St. Thomas, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The service adds to the present daily flights between Fort Lauderdale and St. Thomas.
Thanking the airline for strengthening “aerial highways” to the Virgin Islands, Governor Mapp, Lieutenant Governor Potter and Assistant Commissioner of Tourism Joyce Dore-Griffin highlighted the importance of the Central Florida market to the destination, both for traditional leisure tourism and VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) travelers.
The Governor welcomed Spirit’s team and its passengers to St. Thomas and thanked the Department of Tourism for its continuing efforts to boost the economic development of the islands by attracting increased airlift to the Territory. “Our partnership with Spirit Airlines continues to grow and expand for the benefit of the people of the 
Virgin Islands and the benefit of Spirit Airlines’ employees and shareholders, and we look forward to strengthening our relationship in the future,” he said.
In turn, Stephen Schuler, Spirit’s Director of Communications, described the airline’s happiness at working with the Virgin Islands tourism team. “As an airline we love working with really good groups and this is the best in the industry, the best in the world,” said Schuler, adding that the airline is in the business of connecting family and friends and providing more low cost options for people to travel.
Before take-off in Orlando, passengers were greeted by tourism representatives, steel pan music, carnival dancers and a celebratory cake to commemorate the opening of this important gateway to St. Thomas.
Spirit also serves the island of St. Croix with three weekly flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport.
Press Release: United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism
Photo Captions:
Header: Governor Kenneth E. Mapp (center) and Lieutenant Governor Osbert E. Potter (left) welcome Spirit Airlines’ new flight from Orlando to St. Thomas. At right is Stephen Schuler, Spirit’s Director of Communications.
Insert: Kay Milliner-Kitchens (right), USVI Department of Tourism’s Director of Sales, joined the celebration in Orlando this morning.
About the U.S. Virgin Islands
For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Instagram (@visitusvi) and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI). When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel – including on-line check-in – making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
-
TCI News1 week agoExperience Turks and Caicos and Ministry of Tourism explore development of Cruise industry at Seatrade Global Cruise Conference
-
Latin America and Caribbean6 days agoRegional SDGs Update
-
Crime1 week agoFollowing Court ruling, US Embassy Doubles Down on Warning: DO NOT TRAVEL TO TCI WITH GUNS, AMMO
-
Bahamas News7 days agoEnvironment State-Minister updates ‘Our Ocean’ forum on The Bahamas as SIDS leader in sustainable tourism
-
Caribbean News1 week agoU.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS SHINES AS A PREMIER DESTINATION AT THE 2024 SEATRADE CRUISE GLOBAL CONFERENCE
-
Bahamas News5 days agoPacesetting Cohort of Eleuthera Residents Graduate from Leading Light Programme
-
Caribbean News1 week agoRBC appoints new Head of Caribbean Banking
-
Bahamas News6 days agoNassau Cruise Port Donates Nearly $2 Million Towards Food Security