Air Travel: New Nonstop Mumbai Service, More Caribbean Flights

A new nonstop service to Mumbai and more flights to the Caribbean lead this week’s air travel news. 

This week Delta announced plans to begin nonstop service between New York – JFK and Mumbai on December 22, marking the only nonstop service between the two cities by a U.S. carrier, the airline said. Delta says it will fly the route with a newly renovated Boeing 777-200LR, with seatback entertainment throughout, Gogo Ku Wi-Fi connectivity and free mobile messaging. The airline had first started offering service between the U.S. and Mumbai in 2006, but suspended it in 2009. 

In the Caribbean, this week Saint Lucia tourism officials announced that American Airlines is set to resume a second daily nonstop flight from Miami to the island on June 6. The second flight will depart at 8:45 a.m. and arrive in Saint Lucia at 11:21 a.m.

In Jamaica, this week the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) reported that the destination has secured over 100,000 additional seats for the summer travel period between May and August.

The northeastern United States has seen the most significant capacity increase, the JTB said, accounting for more than half of the seats secured. From New York-JFK, JetBlue has added more capacity and increased frequency to Kingston and Montego Bay and Delta has added daily service to Kingston. From Newark, United Airlines has increased frequency to Montego Bay, and from Baltimore, and Southwest Airlines has increased frequency to Montego Bay.

The southeastern United States has received over 20,000 additional seats for the summer to Montego Bay, the JTB said, with American Airlines increasing flights from Charlotte, Delta increasing capacity from Atlantaand JetBlue adding a second daily flight from Orlando during August. 

Additionally, Spirit Airlines has introduced new service to Montego Bay and Kingston. From New Orleans, Vacation Express will reintroduce its charter service to Montego Bay starting May 25 and will operate through to June 22.

In the Midwest, Southwest begins new weekly service on Saturdays from St. Louis to Montego Bay starting June 9.

The western United States will see United Airlines adding extra flights Tuesdays and Thursdays from Houstonto Montego Bay. Additionally, Sun Country Airlines will begin new service from Dallas – Fort Worth to Montego Bay starting May 24. This service will operate through to August 19.

The UK and Europe have grown their overall seat capacity to Jamaica by 9,257 seats, or 5.5 percent, compared to last year. This is due primarily to the addition of new service from Manchester, the JTB said, larger equipment from British Airways out of Gatwick and TUI out of Manchester. TUI has also doubled their seat capacity from Belgium and Holland with longer rotations.

Finally, in the Caribbean, new direct service from Barbados twice weekly on Caribbean Airlines largely accounts for a 6 percent increase this summer.

Related Stories

After Accident, Oasis of the Seas to Return May 5

Top 10 Reasons to Use a Travel Advisor

Virtuoso Picks Chile as This Year's Hottest Summer Destination

The Latest Incentives for Travel Advisor Appreciation Month