Above: Bonaire (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Delta Airlines is adding a new weekly flight from Atlanta to Bonaire, according to the Tourism Corporation Bonaire.

The flight, which will be operated on Fridays, will launch on Aug. 22 on a 737-800 flight with 16 business class seats and 138 coach seats.

Delta already operates a flight from Atlanta to Bonaire on Saturdays.

The new Delta flight is the first major expansion of service from a US carrier since the beginning of the economic crisis, according to Ethsel Pieternella, Bonaire’s Director of Tourism.

“We will have to increase our marketing efforts and grow our markets commensurately in order to fill the additional seats,” he said. “It will be a challenge, but I have no doubt that together we are up to the task.”

The TCB also announced that United would be continuing its new Houston flight in September.

“We are pleased that Delta sees the growth potential in expanding their service to Bonaire,” said Commissioner of Tourism and Economic Development Edsel Winklaar. “This year’s agreement with United reflects the success of our pilot programme last year and the private-public sector initiative it represented.”