The government of the Commonwealth of Dominica through the Ministry of Tourism and Urban Renewal and Discover Dominica Authority officially opened the first CARIBBEAN AVIATION MEETUP Conference in Dominica on June 14 2016.  The Minister for Tourism and Urban Renewal Hon. Robert Tonge delivered the keynote address at the official opening held at the Fort Young Hotel, Roseau Dominica. In attendance was His Excellency Charles Savarin, the President of Dominica among other invited speakers and conference delegates.

The Hon. Minister commented on the recent meeting with LIAT in May 2016 and improved airlift which took effect on from June 1, 2016.  This new schedule has dramatically increased the number of flights from two (2) flights daily or ninety-six (96) seats to five (5) flights daily and one (1) flight four times weekly or an average of three hundred and twenty-eight seats (328) for the upcoming peak summer travel period.  This new schedule features the reinstatement of late afternoon direct flights from Antigua offering convenient connections from the United Kingdom and Europe; mid-morning, mid-afternoon and evening flights from Barbados which allow same day connections from many continental United States cities, Toronto and London; non-stop flights from Puerto Rico four days of the week; and three flights per week from Guadeloupe.  According to Minister Tonge, “the convenience factor in travel for locals, students, business people and visitors has significantly improved as a result of these additional flights from LIAT.”

Following the official opening, a number of plenary sessions were held along with spirited discussions by the many aviation experts. Providing ample time for such discussions is a critical part of the Caribbean Aviation Meetup as it is expected ideas and potential solutions will come from those discussions.

The representative of WINAIR, Mr. Claudio Buncamper also took the opportunity to inform of the recent Interline agreement signed between British Airways and WINAIR, which will benefit travelers to Dominica through a more seamless and convenient travel experience to Dominica.  Travelers are now able to buy a through ticket, allowing them to check baggage through to Dominica and utilize the in transit facilities at Antigua enroute to Dominica’s Canefield Airport on the Winair Twin Otter Service.  WINAIR will increase its service between Canefield Airport and Antigua to daily starting June 21, 2016.  Flights between Douglas-Charles Airport and St. Maarten and Guadeloupe through the WINAIR-Air Antilles partnership will also increase to daily for the summer season starting June 25, 2016.

SOURCE: http://go-jamaica.com/pressrelease/item.php?id=6641

IMAGE: sflcn.com The Island of Dominica