By the Caribbean Journal staff

American Airlines is launching its first-ever nonstop flights to St Vincent and the Grenadines .

The world’s largest airline will launch its new flights between Miami International Airport and St Vincent’s Argyle International Airport Dec. 22.

The Palm Island resort in the Grenadines.

The year-round, weekly Saturday flights will represent the first-ever flights by a United States-based carrier to St Vincent.

“To have direct service out of Miami is a game changer for the country,” said CEO of the SVG Tourism Authority Glen Beache. “This service will make it so much easier for visitors including the diaspora to vacation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

It should provide a boost for arrivals from the U.S.; last year, the North American market accounted for 42 percent of stayover visitors to the Grenadines.

A cottage at the Petit St Vincent resort.

Until the country opened its new airport last year, reaching St Vincent was typically done by flying first to Barbados and then flying on a regional carrier.

Now, the new service (along with new flights on carriers including Air Canada and Caribbean Airlines) is making it easier than ever before to get to the archipelago. (Canada’s Sunwing is also operating chartered service for the spring and summer).

“Miami being one of the main hubs for connections in the USA will be an excellent gateway for visitors from Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and even the United Kingdom to access the beauty that is St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Beache said.

– CJ