ian fleming villa with beach and green trees
Ian Fleming's villa at Goldeneye in Jamaica where you can actually vacation.
Flights

American Airlines Begins New Ocho Rios, Jamaica Flights, With a Nod to James Bond 

By: Alexander Britell - February 24, 2024

Ian Fleming began writing the book that would become Casino Royale at his seaside villa in the town of Oracabessa, Jamaica in February 1952. 

It was here on the outskirts of Ocho Rios that Fleming would forge the story of the British spy that would forever change the world of literature and cinema. 

This week, 71 years after he began typing at his desk (which still exists at what is now Chris Blackwell’s Goldeneye resort), American Airlines officially began scheduled flights to the airport that now bears Fleming’s name. 

The first American Airlines flight between Miami and Ocho Rios touched down Saturday at Ian Fleming International Airport, the first-ever international scheduled service to the small airport on the north coast of Jamaica — bearing, aptly, the flight number 4007 (the last three digits should be familiar). 

Ian Fleming at his corner desk at his villa Goldeneye, Jamaica (photo courtesy of Goldeneye).

The flight is a boon for the area and for travelers looking to shorten their travel time to many of the popular hotels and resorts in the area known colloquially as Ochi, which is a nearly two-hour drive from Jamaica’s major air hub in Montego Bay. 

Ocho Rios has a broad portfolio of places to stay, from the legendary Jamaica Inn beach hotel to some of Sandals’ top hotels, including the Sandals Ochi resort. 

jamaica ocho rios new way beach photo
The Jamaica Inn. Photo by Hamish Stewart.

Miami-Ocho Rios will be operating twice weekly, with flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays and flight time taking about two hours.  

It’s yet another expansion for American Airlines to a smaller Caribbean airport, which has been a trend for the world’s largest airline in the last few years. 

The carrier has been steadily adding service to smaller, less-trafficked airports using its Embraer aircraft, creating new connections for destinations that have long lacked international flights — most notably Anguilla, Dominica and the British Virgin Islands. 

Now there’s another one, in the birthplace of James Bond. 

Popular Posts cape santa maria

From Anguilla to Aruba, the Best Caribbean Beaches to Visit This Summer

Forget the Hamptons, forget Santorini. And Florida? There’s a reason snowbirds go home in the summer. If you’re looking for a summertime beach getaway, the Caribbean is it. The water is deliciously warm, the trade winds keep you cool and […]


The Winners of the 2024 Caribbean Green Awards 

caribbean green

With almost 20,000 votes, the winners of the Caribbean Green Awards 2024 Presented by E-Finity have been crowned.  From state-of-the-art marine conservation projects to hotels that are redefining sustainability, the Green movement has never been stronger in the Caribbean.  “This […]


Curacao’s Newest All-Inclusive Resort Reinvents the Beach Bungalow

beach bungalow on the sand with reflection of water

Hyatt’s Dreams brand first debuted on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao back in 2019, a transformation of what had been the Hilton Curacao. In many ways, Dreams’ debut helped change the game for the island, helping to kick off […]


Related Posts montego bay jamaica conference

Montego Bay, Jamaica Is Hosting the Caribbean’s Biggest Travel Conference Next Month

Hotel companies. Tour operators. Airlines. Tourist boards. Meeting planners. Travel advisors. Media professionals. Caribbean Travel Marketplace is the world’s biggest Caribbean travel conference, and it’s back again this year in the heart of Montego Bay, Jamaica.  This year’s Caribbean Travel […]


Riu’s New All-Inclusive in Montego Bay Has an Opening Date 

jamaica falmouth riu resort with beach and blue water

Riu’s highly-anticipated new resort in greater Montego Bay now has an opening date: May 4, 2024, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The new all-inclusive resort is now taking reservations for stays, according to Riu’s Web site.  A 753-room resort, it’s the […]


American Airlines Is Adding More Daily Saint Lucia Flights 

point hardy

The world’s largest airline is expanding its nonstop service to the Eastern Caribbean island of Saint Lucia ahead of the summer season, Caribbean Journal has learned.  American Airlines is doubling its daily nonstop flights between Miami and Saint Lucia’s Hewanorra […]


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