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For the first time in history, Emirates Airlines will now offer flights to Jamaica. Emirates is the leading airline in the Gulf Coast Countries and will now provide opportunities for travel to Jamaica from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The Minister of Tourism for Jamaica, Edmund Bartlett, announced on Tuesday that Emirates Airlines will be providing direct flights to the island. This follows high-level meetings that took place at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

“This is a major initiative for Jamaica as it is opening the Middle Eastern gateway from Asia and North Africa. It is the first time that Destination Jamaica has been entered into the ticketing system of a GCC airline and gives the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) significant leverage to negotiate direct flights to the destination,” Bartlett said.

The Norman Manley Airport of Port Royal and Sangster International Airport of Montego Bay are currently being listed in the airline system with ticket prices available. Flights are offered from various departures, including Boston, Orlando, JFK, and Newark. Another itinerary goes through Malpensa, Italy, which will also provide access to the European market. Travelers should note that Emirates Holidays will be selling the flights.

“This is a major initiative for Jamaica as it opens the Middle Eastern gateway from Asia and North Africa. It is the first time that Destination Jamaica is entered into the ticketing system of a GCC airline and gives the Jamaica Tourist Board significant leverage to negotiate direct flights to the destination,” said Bartlett. The move comes after months of discussions beginning in the Fall of 2021 during a trip to Expo 2020 in Dubai, where Bartlett and the Director of Tourism, Donovan White, made efforts to bring the flights to reality.

Airlines Joining In
Emirates is not the first airline to begin offering more flight options to Jamaica, and it surely won’t be the last. Jamaica is an amazing country that has a lot to offer, and it was recently ranked as number one for bookings for U.S. travelers this summer. From the beautiful landscapes and sunrises, to the friendly locals and exciting activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Jamaica. So it is no surprise that many airlines are adding flight options to keep up with rising demand.

Recently, JetBlue announced a 40% increase in the number of seats that it will be offering for flights between the United States and Montego Bay, which is an increase over even the pre-pandemic seat numbers from 2019. Similarly, Frontier Airlines just announced that they would be offering new flights to Kingston as of May 5th, 2022. Frontier has added the flights to the capital city and plans to provide them three times per week year-round.

Supply and Demand
Now that travel restrictions are being lifted and Covid is becoming less of a threat, people are eager to take vacations again. This has caused a surge in demand for flights to Jamaica, as people look to escape the stresses of daily life and enjoy the island’s white-sand beaches. Since the outbreak of Covid, the aviation industry has been facing staff shortages, supply chain disruptions, and inflationary pressures. These challenges have made it difficult for airlines to keep up with the growing demand for travel, which has led to higher travel costs.

Emirates Airlines, and other companies like it, have likely noticed the demand increase for flights to Jamaica and are doing their best to take advantage of the increasing number of people wishing to visit the island nation. Jamaica is filled with stunning beaches, majestic natural sights, and a vibrant culture. Many travelers want to visit Jamaica and see everything it has to offer, and every additional flight being offered will give travelers more options for their dream vacation.
With the announcement of the new flights being offered by Emirates, other airlines may take notice and begin to offer new flights of their own. For travelers, this is welcome news.
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