Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
TWO UNITED States-based airlines have increased flights to St. Lucia, following Air Jamaica's decision to temporarily suspend flights to the island.
US Airways Group has increased flights from two to three times a week, and Delta Airlines will move from two to five flights a week beginning April 1, St. Lucian tourism director Hilary Modeste told the Associated Press yesterday.
Currently, American Airlines flies to the island seven times a week, and talks are under way with Continental Airlines Inc. to begin air service, Modeste said.
Air Jamaica had been providing 12 flights per week between the U.S. and St. Lucia.
Ms. Modeste said the St. Lucia Tourist Board was also looking to replace Air Jamaica as the major airline sponsor for the 12th annual St. Lucia Jazz Festival, to be held April 29-May 8.
SUSPENDED FLIGHTS
Air Jamaica last Friday suspended flights to the three eastern Caribbean countries of Barbados, Grenada and St. Lucia until April 16. It said this was in order to comply with new Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) safety regulations.
The (CAA) had ordered Air Jamaica to carry out major maintenance to its aircrafts every 15 months instead of every 18 months or risk losing its category one rating with the U.S.'s Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).
