DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM ANNOUNCES INCREASED FLIGHT SERVICE FROM AMERICAN AIRLINES AND DELTA AIR LINES
~ Additional non-stop service to St. Thomas and St. Croix will arrive
later this year ~

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 16 — The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism today announced that American Airlines and Delta Air Lines will increase non-stop service to St. Croix’s Henry E. Rohlsen Airport and St. Thomas’ Cyril E. King Airport.

This week, American Airlines shared plans to increase service to St. Croix, which will provide 10 flights departing weekly from Miami (up from seven flights weekly). Earlier this month, Delta Air Lines also announced an increase in service from two flights per week to daily service to St. Croix from Atlanta to commence on December 19, 2009.

Additionally, Delta Air Lines has confirmed an increase in service to St. Thomas from Atlanta of up to four flights daily (up to 26 flights per week). Also, Delta Air Lines’ twice weekly service to St. Thomas from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport will increase to seven days a week. Both increases will take effect in December.

Over the last year, the Department of Tourism has worked closely with key airline partners to provide more than $3 million in co-operative marketing initiatives to support airlift to the Territory from key gateway cities. As a result, flight service to St. Thomas has increased by 6% YOY, and by the end of 2009, flight service to St. Croix will recapture the 40% drop in service experienced during fall 2008. With the increased service outlined above, both St. Croix and St. Thomas will experience positive increases in airlift for 2010.

“The new service from Delta and American Airlines arrives at a key time for the Territory—the winter season—to help support the demand created in part by the Department’s marketing programs,” stated Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty.

Member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization

For more information contact:
Yale Frederiksen/Andréa Skerritt
M Booth & Associates
300 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10010
(212) 481-7000
usviteam@mbooth.com