BY SHEENA FORDE-CRAIGG | FEB 5, 2024
Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, announces the return of Delta Airlines to Barbados during a press conference on Saturday. He is joined by acting Chief Executive Officer of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Craig Hinds and Chief Executive Officer at the Grantley Adams International Airport, Hadley Bourne. (J. Bishop/BGIS)
Barbados’ winter 2024/2025 airlift is expected to receive a boost of 25,000 seats with the return of Delta Air Lines out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport.
Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, made this disclosure over the weekend during a press conference held at the Ministry’s headquarters, One Barbados Place, Warrens, St. Michael.
Mr. Gooding-Edghill indicated that over the past few months, Barbados has been engaged, through the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), in a consistent and aggressive strategy of increasing and improving Barbados’ airline connections with the rest of the world. And as a result, Government has finalised an agreement that will see the return of Delta Air Lines from November this year.
“I am delighted to announce a further boost in our rewarding air traffic efforts with the announcement that well-known and highly credible major North American airline, Delta Air Lines, will be resuming service to Barbados. Effective November 23, this year, Delta will once again be flying to Barbados, after its last touchdown at the Grantley Adams International Airport in 2016 from New York, and 2017 from Atlanta.
“Starting November 23, Delta will provide a seven-day-a-week service from Atlanta, Georgia, and provide once weekly services that is Saturdays only from New York, commencing December 21 of this year, thereby improving flying opportunities to Barbados. This Delta service, which at first will be seasonal, has the potential to grow into a more year-round service,” Minister Gooding-Edghill said.
The new daily Atlanta to Barbados service will depart Atlanta at 9:45 a.m. and arrive in Barbados at 3:20 p.m. The return flight from Barbados is scheduled to leave at 4:40 p.m., reaching Atlanta at 9:00 p.m. The Saturday-only flight from JFK will depart at 8:15 a.m., reaching Barbados at 2:05 p.m., with the return leg of the flight leaving at 3:25 p.m. and landing at JFK at 7:35 p.m. Both services are expected to operate utilising Delta’s 737-800 aircraft until April 2025.
The International Transport Minister noted that the resumption of services by Delta speaks to the airline’s confidence in Barbados and will strengthen the island’s ability to leverage connections with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as a hub, which will provide easy connections with the South and Midwest, United States.
“Furthermore, the Delta service provides Barbados as a destination and brand with the unique opportunity to tap into and expose the unique attractiveness of Barbados to the 100 million plus SkyMiles passenger membership loyalty programme. The resumption of this Delta service is evidence of the success of our ongoing programme to grow the United States market, through strategic expansion of gateways in critical points to build seamless connectivity with Barbados for travellers from accessible gateways in the improving United States market,” he emphasised.
Mr. Gooding-Edghill thanked Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley; BTMI; and Delta Air Lines officials for the “invaluable” role played in bringing about the return of Delta to Barbados.
Chief Executive Officer at the Grantley Adams International Airport, Hadley Bourne, said with the addition of Delta Air Lines on the airport’s tarmac during its busiest period, 12 noon to 6:00 p.m., the airport is working on building capacity to accommodate the increase in aircraft and passengers, which involves finalising the renovations to the Concorde facility.
