The highly-anticipated new nonstop flights from Miami to the British Virgin Islands are set to launch this year, according to British Virgin Islands Director of Tourism Sharon Flax-Brutus.

The new BVI Airways flights will be operated on an 86-passenger Avro RJ jet plane, with initial plans for three flights per week from Miami International Airport to Tortola’s Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport.

The flights, which would be the first ever nonstop flights from the US mainland to the BVI, are set to launch in the “late fall,” Flax-Brutus said.

The flights are the product of a partnership between the British Virgin Islands and BVI Airways.

“I believe it will be very significant [impact” Flax-Brutus told Caribbean Journal. “We see it opening a gateway not only to tourism but we’re also a financial services center and we just opened a financial arbitration center as well. So I see it as leveling the playing field and once we get it started, there’s a lot of demand in the private sector. Agents have told us they will sell it. So I expect once the service starts that we’ll be able to grow our numbers.”

The flights were first announced at the beginning of this year.

— Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, CJ Travel Editor