st thomas caribbean islands best
Brewer's Bay in St Thomas.
News

What’s Next for American Airlines in the Caribbean?

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - March 9, 2021

People are starting to travel again. And while the numbers are, unsurprisingly, not what they were at the beginning of last year, there seems to be growing optimism in the travel industry — particularly the all-important aviation sector, with increased vaccination and improving case trends.

That includes American Airlines, which is still operating more flights to the Caribbean than any other airline, even amid the pandemic. 

So what’s next for the world’s largest airline in the Caribbean? 

To learn more, Caribbean Journal talked to Jose Freig, managing director for Latin America and the Caribbean for American Airlines, about the company’s new alliance with JetBlue, its new destinations in the Caribbean and the islands that are performing the strongest right now.

What does American’s Caribbean network look like right now?

Since launching our Caribbean operation 50 years ago, American has come a long way in the region. Today we are proud to be the leading airline in the Caribbean, operating more flights to more destinations than any other carrier. We are currently operating up to 131 daily flights to 27 destinations, increasing to 32 in April as we resume additional flying in the region.

Which destinations in AA’s Caribbean network are seeing the most traffic?

We’re seeing a lot of demand to San Juan (SJU) and St. Thomas (STT). In the fall and early winter there was a lot of demand for visiting friends and relatives in Santo Domingo (SDQ), Santiago (STI), Port-au-Prince (PAP), and Havana (HAV).

JOSÉ FREIG, DIRECTOR GERENTE DE AMERICAN AIRLINES. Sesión de fotos durante una entrevista con el Director Gerente para Latinoamérica, José Freig. Dichas fotografías se utilizarán para la sección de Economía de Prensa Libre. En la imagen, José Freig, Director Gerente de American Airlines para Latinoamérica.Juan Diego González. 160519

Are there any Caribbean destinations that have performed better than expected amid the pandemic? 

Leisure destinations in the Dominican Republic have performed well through the fall and early winter; and looking ahead, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the USVI stand out as strong performers for the spring/summer.  

What impact will the new JetBlue alliance have on your Caribbean network and operations? 

American and JetBlue are committed to our partnership, which will create long-term value for team members and customers and provide enhanced competition in the Northeast. For American, the partnership will lead to growth, more choice for our customers and more opportunities for our team members. The ability to expand means long-term growth for American in New York, including expanded long-haul international service to new markets and support for future jobs as demand rebounds. The JetBlue partnership will enable us to weather the COVID-19 pandemic and be in a stronger position in the Northeast as demand improves.

As part of our codeshare relationship, American’s customers will have access to 49 codeshare routes on JetBlue, while JetBlue customers will have access to more than 25 routes on American out of New York (JFK, LGA and EWR) and Boston (BOS). We’re currently evaluating the inclusion of our international routes to our codeshare, including the Caribbean. More Northeast markets and international routes will be added regularly throughout the first half of this year.

Are there any suspended routes (particularly in the French Caribbean) that you’re likely to resume soon?

In April, we are looking forward to resuming our operation from our Miami hub to Bonaire (BON), Trinidad (POS), Martinique (FDF), Grand Cayman (GCM) and Guadeloupe (PTP), which have been suspended since 2020 due to COVID-19 government restrictions.

AA recently added another new destination in the Dominican Republic, Samana. Why are you bullish on that destination and the DR in general? 

The Dominican Republic has been strong throughout the pandemic. In looking at new opportunities in the DR, Samana stood out since it’s not served from the United States and as the leader in the Caribbean, we wanted to provide this opportunity for our customers. It’s an adventure and eco-tourism destination that has secluded beaches and is less crowded than other destinations in the Dominican Republic. People are looking to travel to locations where they can be outside and distanced from others and Samana provides this.

Dominican Republic American Airlines
Samana.

What’s your outlook for the rest of 2021 and into 2022 in the Caribbean? 

This year we are proud to celebrate our 50th anniversary in the Caribbean, a source of pride for American as it’s a testament to our commitment to the many communities we serve and to our incredible team in the region. This summer, we plan to further increase our footprint in the Caribbean, launching our 33rd destination, Samaná, connecting with Charlotte (CLT) seasonally. Additionally, starting in June, we will launch new routes from New York-JFK to Providenciales (PLS) and St. Lucia (UVF) as well as from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to UVF and St. Maarten (SXM). Since 1971, American’s commitment to the Caribbean has never wavered and we look forward to further deepening our ties to this incredible region that we are proud to call home.

Popular Posts w punta cana

A New All-Inclusive W Hotel Is Opening This Year in Punta Cana 

The first-ever all-inclusive W Hotel in the Caribbean is opening this year in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The hotel, part of a broad expansion for parent company Marriott International, is on the list of expected 2024 […]


Why Grenada Is a New Caribbean Luxury Hotspot

beach house silversands

From its world-renowned chocolate to its pristine beaches to a region-leading focus on sustainability, Grenada is as fascinating and unique as destination as you’ll find in the Caribbean.  But in the last few years, the lush Eastern Caribberan island has […]


5 Adults-Only Resorts to Visit Right Now in the Caribbean 

galley bay

Sometimes you just want that extra degree of serenity, of privacy, of seclusion. There is a reason, after all, that adults-only resorts are booming in popularity, particularly in the Caribbean: travelers want to know that when they arrive, they know […]


Related Posts aruba usvi beach

From the US Virgin Islands to Aruba, Caribbean Travel Is Booming

First there was the breakout after restrictions were lifted. Then there was all that pent-up travel demand. Through each phase of the post-pandemic period, travelers have continued flocking to the Caribbean.  It’s the sign of a resilient global destination, and […]


Frontier Is Adding a New Nonstop Flight to Los Cabos 

nobu los cabos

It’s one of the most popular hotel destinations in Mexico: Los Cabos, which has seen a broad boom in recent years with the entry to market of brands like Nobu, Thompson, Marriott and Waldorf Astoria, among others.  That has led, […]


This Former Caribbean Rockefeller Resort Is for Sale

caribbean rockefeller resort

In 1986, Laurance Rockefeller, the founder of Rock Resorts, developed 27 acres of prime beachfront land into what was for decades one of the sought after places to stay in the Caribbean. Now, the four-star, 150-room resort is for sale, […]


SUBSCRIBE!

Sign up for Caribbean Journal's free newsletter for a daily dose of beaches, hotels, rum and the best Caribbean travel information on the net.


No. Thank You