The Cayman Islands has reached a major milestone in its tourism recovery, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

Flight data shows that air capacity to the Cayman Islands through the first quarter of 2023 is higher than it was in the same period in 2019, before the pandemic. 

The report shows an increase in 1,253 seats in the fourth quarter, a 1 percent increase in capacity over the fourth quarter of 2019. 

It’ s a “positive indication of tourism restoration moving towards 2023,” the destination said in a statement. 

“The airlift capacity report is a welcome indication of recovery as we look ahead to the 2022 – 2023 season,” said Cayman Islands Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, who also pointed to increased demand following an easing of health protocols. 

“Our focus is to drive growth from the markets where it will have the most positive impact,” Bryan said. “While we celebrate a net increase in available seats for Q4 2022, we must also continue to strive for opportunities to increase the number of flights, operating airlines and gateway cities.”

Officials said the net growth in seats was driven by increased American Airlines connections through Miami and Charlotte, and Southwest’s strong feeder markets in Texas, among others. 

Cayman Airways, the destination’s flag carrier, “is the destination’s most important advantages in mitigating any loss in capacity from U.S. carriers and can serve as a silver bullet for market development,” officials said. 

“Airlift is the oxygen of our islands’ tourism industry, and our global team has been working hard, engaging with the airlines to restore routes and seats,” said Rosa Harris, Director of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. “A spirit of teamwork between the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Cayman Airways, Cayman Border Control, the Cayman Islands Airport Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority, coupled with cooperation with the private sector is the key to our success. As we continue to collaborate in rebuilding our stayover arrivals and welcoming visitors back to our beautiful shores, further increasing the Cayman Islands’ airlift remains a top priority.”