By the Caribbean Journal staff

Sunwing Airlines has launched its first-ever flights between Montreal, Canada and Antigua.

The first Sunwing flight was welcomed by a water cannon salute at Antigua’s VC Bird International Airport on Sunday.

Sunwing is operating the weekly Sunday service on Boeing 737-800 aircraft. It will complement the two weekly flights between Toronto and Antigua that began last week.

“Airlift is integral to the success of our aggressive and strategic investment plan for the tourism product and industry in the country,” said Charles Fernandez. “This weekly service by the Sunwing Travel Group will be an important connection to get our visitors quickly from both Quebec and Ontario, Canada into our islands.”

Montreal is Antigua’s second-largest travel market in Canada, a market the destination sees as a rising force for arrivals in 2018.

“On behalf of Sunwing, we are thrilled to be a part of the inaugural flight coming directly from Montreal, Canada, and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with the country,” said Susan Oland, Director, Partnerships and Tour Operations at Sunwing Travel Group.