CAL heads to US capital

(CNS): As announced earlier this year by the Chair of the Board Angelyn Hernandez and reported on CNS, the National Flag Carrier, Cayman Airways, has now introduced a new route and re-introduced an old one in what the airline has described as preparation for a busy tourism season. CAL is now flying non-stop to Washington, DC, and Chicago, Illinois.

“The addition of these two cities on CAL’s roster is vital to our success as a destination this winter,” said Minister for Tourism Charles Clifford. “Detailed analysis shows that the nation’s capital has two of the top 20 US zip codes for originating travel to the Cayman Islands. Washington, DC, is also our second largest market in the North East and up until now it was the only top NE Visitor Arrivals market without direct service to the Cayman Islands.”

He said he was also pleased to see the return of Chicago on the winter flight plan. “The Windy City is also strategically important as year over year Chicago is in the top five American cities that account for Cayman Islands visitors. We look forward to this market growing even further during this winter season.”

Cayman Airways CEO Designate Olson Anderson said the airline is also looking forward to returning to Chicago. “Washington, DC, is a new gateway for the national flag carrier and we’re very excited about the fantastic travel experiences this new route offers for DC area visitors as well as Cayman residents,” he commented.

From 13 December through 25 April 2009, the Washington, DC, (IAD) route will operate twice weekly – Tuesdays and Saturdays from Grand Cayman. Resuming the Chicago (ORD) route from 17 December 2008 through to 22 April when flights will depart from Grand Cayman on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Trina Christian, Executive Director for the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) said private sector stakeholders in the local tourism industry were also looking forward to a busy winter season with these new routes. “CITA accommodation members in particular are thrilled that Cayman Airways will be offering direct flights to these destinations,” she said. “CITA was involved in the entire process including investigating the most feasible gateways, and we feel that these two markets present the most opportunity for connecting both existing business and new business to our Tourism Industry. The CITA looks forward to strongly supporting this by making every effort to fill the planes with visitors.”

With the help of the Department of Tourism, Christian said a special promotion has already been created where many of CITA’s hotel partners are offering a resort credit of up to $400 to incentivize travelling on board Cayman Airways. “Marketing efforts made by individual properties will include the Cayman Airways offer to further support the successful launch of these flights,” she added.