QUEBEC CITY, CANADA - The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism reports that airlines serving the Territory are satisfied with their route performance and some are looking forward to increasing capacity to the islands in the months ahead.
Speaking at the conclusion of the 12th Routes Americas conference in Quebec, Commissioner Designee Joseph Boschulte said the conference presented the destination with an opportunity to update airline partners on the progress the islands have made since the hurricanes of 2017. Airline executives were especially interested in learning of the reopening of several hotels as well as the uptick in Airbnb accommodations and villa rentals across the Territory as part of the wider accommodations landscape in the Virgin Islands.
"We also had an opportunity to speak about our larger accommodations properties which are expected to come back on line later this year as well as next year," the Commissioner Designee reported, explaining that as the destination positions itself for the next winter season," at a minimum, we must maintain pre-hurricane airlift into both St. Thomas and St. Croix."
During the three-day route development forum for the Americas, the Commissioner Designee met with carriers currently serving the Territory, including American Airlines, Cape Air, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, LIAT, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines, and held discussions with Sun Country Airlines about its potential return from Minneapolis. He also connected with Allegiant and Southwest Airlines to begin the dialogue about potential future airlift development.
