GRENADA MOVES TO BOLSTER ITS AIR SERVICE TO THE DESTINATION
By Robert Kelly, eTN

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, February 24, 2010 - Delta, the world's largest airline, will launch its non-stop service to Grenada earlier than planned, as the island moves to beef up its efforts to lure more international flights to the destination.

According to Delta officials here in the United States, service will now begin from JFK to Grenada on June 5 instead of July 3, a move which was prompted by the Grenada government to compensate for the planned discontinuation of Air Jamaica flights to the Spice Island from JFK on March 9.

The twice weekly Delta flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays will depart New York at 1:15 am and arrive at the Maurice Bishop International Airport in Grenada at 6:05 am, while the return flights will leave Grenada at 7:15 am and arrive at JFK 12:35 pm.

Delta will use its 737-800 aircraft, which offers 16 first-class seats and 144 coach class seats.

Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, Glynis Roberts, recently told members of the Grenada Parliament that the new Delta service will also encourage more nationals to return home during the Festive season starting with Carnival this summer. Roberts said the service comes as a result of the Grenada Board of Tourism's road shows last fall in the northeastern United States and the excellent work of the local Airlift Committee in Grenada.

"I think we are going in the right direction, and we just need to continue on our marketing drive, including reaching out to the Diaspora," Roberts said.

The minister said that Virgin Atlantic is also offering another weekly service from the UK and that Air Canada has expressed an interest in providing year-round service to the island.

Meanwhile, director of tourism USA , Christine Noel-Horsford, also welcomes the new service, describing it as an excellent opportunity to attract visitors from throughout the United States utilizing Delta's extensive hubs in Detroit, Atlanta, Memphis, Minneapolis, New York-JFK, and Salt Lake City.

Grenada is currently served by American Airlines and Air Jamaica from the United States; British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Monarch, and Condor from Europe and Air Canada; and the charters, Sky Service and Zoom, from Canada during the winter.