Long-awaited, nonstop service from Bradley International Airport to Jamaica takes flight
Capping a 15-year, grassroots push by the Hartford area’s Caribbean community, low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines Thursday will launch nonstop service to Jamaica from Bradley International Airport, marking the first time a flight has been offered from the state’s largest airport to the island.
“Connecticut is an important market for Jamaica in the key Northeast region of the U.S. that’s home to many of our Diaspora,” Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s minister of tourism, said. “The launch of this new flight supports the continuing strong rebound of Jamaica’s tourism sector and provides travelers with yet another convenient option to get to our beautiful island.”
The service, first announced in September, will operate year-round, four times a week. A check of Spirit’s website Wednesday showed the cost of a round-trip ticket departing Thursday and returning Dec. 18 was $246. The fare does not include fees for baggage or advance seat reservations.
Thursday’s flight departs Bradley at 8 a.m. and arrives in Montego Bay at 12:04 p.m. The return flight leaves Jamaica at 1:04 p.m. and arrives at Bradley at 5 p.m.
“We are proud to have finally launched nonstop service to Montego Bay,” Kevin A. Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, which oversees Bradley’s operations., said. “In addition to connecting our passengers to an exciting travel destination, we are proud to offer convenient connectivity for the state’s strong Jamaican population, their friends and their relatives.”
Connecticut has one of the largest Caribbean communities in the country, fifth largest among all states. According to Census data, there are more than 56,000 residents with Jamaican ancestry in Connecticut.
Support for the nonstop flight to Montego Bay was broad, ranging from activists in the area’s Caribbean community and airport officials to state and local elected officials.
The state has agreed to provide $2 million in incentives over the next two years for the launch. Under the deal, the state would provide up to $1 million a year to Spirit, if the airline does not meet revenue goals for the flight out of Bradley.
In July, Spirit agreed to merge with JetBlue in a deal valued at $3.8 billion. Until the deal is completed — expected in the first half of 2024 — the two airlines will continue to operate independently. If the Jamaica flight from Bradley were a success, it would be likely to continue beyond the merger, officials have said.
Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com.
