Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
January 21, 2008 (CUOPM)
Plans continue for the inauguration of the once weekly scheduled flight by Delta Airlines into St. Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport with the training of local employees.
Airport Manager Mr. Denzil Jones said counter space has been provided to the US carrier for the introduction of the new non-stop flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to St. Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport on February 16th.
The St. Kitts Tourism Authority said Delta Air Lines flight DL373 will depart Atlanta at 11:15 a.m. eastern daylight-saving time and arrive into St. Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport at 4:05 p.m. local time. The return flight DL372 will depart St. Kitts at 4:55 p.m. and arrive into Atlanta at 8:05 p.m. These flight times allow for several convenient connections from the feeder banks on both flight segments
“We have provided all the necessary facilities,” Jones told the Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM).
He said a team from Delta visited St. Kitts late last year and since then representatives of the airline have conducted several evaluations.
“Delta has been conducting training exercises here since January 7th. The training will end on the 14th and involves customer service, ticketing, ramp operation procedures,” said Alistair Williams of St. Kitts International Ground Services.
“To start this weekly service, Delta will use a 160 seat, 737-800 Boeing aircraft with 16 first class seats and 144 economy seats,” said Williams.
Prime Minister and Minister and Minister of Tourism, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said the introduction of the new service by Delta Airlines “brings our people living in Atlanta closer to home with a direct service and opens up new opportunities for visitors and tourists who would want to visit St. Kitts and Nevis as a preferred destination.”
“We are extremely pleased to have reached an agreement with Delta Air Lines. The fact that Atlanta is one of the world’s largest airline hubs literally opens St. Kitts to receive visitors connecting from gateways across the entire US and the world. This flight will be a wonderful compliment to our overall existing airlift and we are confident that the service will achieve good results and future growth as it will provide easy connections from the Upper Mid-West region of the US and from Canada,” said Dr. Douglas, under whose term of office has seen significant changes to the tourism landscape and job opportunities for locals and a mushrooming of small tourism-related businesses and services.
Millions of dollars have been invested in the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino, expansion of the Ocean Terrace Inn, Ottley’s Plantation, Trinity Inn, Trinity Camp Grounds, the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, Rawlins Plantation, Sea View Guest House. Oceans Edge and other tourism-related services.
Located in the Leeward Islands of the Eastern Caribbean, St. Kitts offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, diverse cultural heritage and rich history.
The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s former sugar plantations, touring Brimstone Hill Fortress, the only man-made UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean, and the more traditional vacation pastimes such as water sports, golf, shopping, tennis, gourmet dining, gaming at St. Kitts’ exclusive casino or simply relaxing on one of the island’s sandy beaches. Guests can select from accommodations ranging from intimate plantation inns to larger hotels or resorts.
Delta Air Lines operates service to more destinations than any global airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 315 destinations in 54 countries. Since 2005, Delta has added more international capacity than all other major U.S. airlines combined and is a leader across the Atlantic with flights to 36 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta and Delta Connection offer nearly 400 weekly flights to 54 destinations. Delta’s marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on nearly 15,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 477 worldwide destinations in 103 countries.