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LATAM Airlines Group to Increase Flights Between Jamaica and Peru

Release Date: 
Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - 16:15

Santiago, Chile; April 23, 2018: Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett says plans to advance arrangements for non-stop flights between Peru and Montego Bay, Jamaica, have advanced after a successful meeting with Senior Executives of LATAM Airlines Group at their headquarters in Chile.

“The meeting is the strongest signal that the Latin American market is now going to come into its own. We could see three flights per week between their Lima, Peru hub and Montego Bay, Jamaica within 12 months,” Minister Bartlett said.

Last week, the Minister also announced that one of Latin America’s largest airlines, COPA, will increase to daily its service between Panama City and Montego Bay starting July of this year bringing to eleven the overall number of flights weekly between both countries.

“With Copa Airlines increasing service into Montego Bay to a daily flight coupled with their 4 flights a week into Kingston, LATAM’s entry would increase to 14 the number of nonstop flights out of Latin America into Jamaica every week.

“The implications of these increased flights will be significant for the expansion of growth in South America and we could very well see my projection of 50,000 to 60,000 visitors out of the region by 2020,” said Minister Bartlett.

According to data received by the Ministry, approximately with 10,000 tourists visit Jamaica annually from Argentina and Chile – which accounts for the bulk of tourist arrivals from Latin America to the island. However, limited cost effective and seamless air connectivity has been a hindrance for attracting more tourists from South America to Jamaica.

To further strengthen efforts to increase connectivity between Jamaica and South America, Minister Bartlett will also meet with the leadership of Latin America’s largest airlines, such as Colombian airline Avianca. He will also meet with major tour operators; leaders of travel focused TV, Radio, print and online media; Government officials and influential travel agents.

LATAM Airlines Group is Latin America’s leading airline group with one of the largest route networks in the world, offering air services to around 140 destinations in 25 countries, and is present in six domestic markets in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in addition to operations elsewhere around the globe. It operates more than 1,200 flights per day and transports 67 million passengers per year

During his trip to South America, the Minister has been joined by Director of Tourism, Donovan White; Senior Advisor/Strategist Delano Seiveright and other Ministry of Tourism officials. The Minister and his delegation, is expected to return to the island on April 26, 2018.