It’s one of the most important source markets for Caribbean travel you never hear about: California. 

While it doesn’t send as many travelers to the region as major markets like Miami and New York, the California market, particularly Southern California has long been an important feeder for the region, particularly for many of the Caribbean’s ultra-luxe hotels and resorts. 

And now one Caribbean destination is capitalizing on that demand in a big way. 

The Cayman Islands’ national flag carrier, Cayman Airways, has officially launched nonstop service between Los Angeles, Calif. and Grand Cayman. 

The first-ever flight between Grand Cayman and Los Angeles took off this weekend, with weekly nonstop service operating on Saturdays out of Owen Roberts International Airport. 

More notably, it’s the only nonstop service connecting Los Angeles with a Caribbean island.

The service departs Grand Cayman on Saturdays, with the LAX-Cayman flights operating on Sundays. 

“Opening an air bridge to new markets such as this one, will drive inbound visitation and grow tourism opportunities for our country because our national airline is making it easier for travelers to get to our Islands,” said Cayman Islands Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan. “Over the longer term however, the routes success will depend on the continued collaboration between the Ministry and Department of Tourism, and our partners in the tourism industry, including the CI Film Commission, the financial services sector, and a host of other essential industry sectors working collaboratively together to leverage business and leisure opportunities.”

The new LAX service “brings Cayman closer to Hollywood,” as officials are branding the route. 

That means both more travelers and more opportunities for LA-based production companies to capitalize on Cayman as a location for film, television, music video and other productions. 

While in Hollywood for the launch events, Cayman’s Department of Tourism held a “Cayman Reception” showcasing local musicians, Carnival models and dancers to promote the new route. 

“I wholeheartedly offer my gratitude to the teams at Cayman Airways, the Airports Authority, Civil Aviation and the Department of Tourism for all their hard work throughout the process of transforming this new route to Los Angeles from a dream to a reality,” Bryan said. 

For more, visit Cayman Airways.