By the Caribbean Journal staff

American Airlines is expanding its flight service to the island of Saint Lucia this winter.

The carrier will be launching an additional daily nonstop flight between Miami and Saint Lucia beginning Dec. 20.

“The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority welcomes this news as the US is a major source market for Saint Lucia and we have been fraught with airlift challenges,” said Agnes Francis, executive chairperson of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority. “One of the greatest impediments to growth in market share is insufficient airlift, especially during the peak winter demand, and the SLTA is confident that the introduction of this new service, especially its timing, will make the island more accessible and translate into more tourism business for the island.”

The Ladera resort in Saint Lucia.

The new flight will supplement American Airlines’ existing daily flight from Miami and its weekend service from Charlotte.

The latter will be expanded into a daily service starting in June, according to the SLTA.

JetBlue and Delta already operate daily flights to Saint Lucia from New York and Atlanta, respectively.

The new daily flights launch bookings this week.

— CJ