New Non-Stop Service From Bradley To Jamaica Announced

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Connecticut travelers wishing to visit the beautiful Caribbean island of Jamaica will soon be able to fly there directly, with the announcement of new non-stop service on Spirit Airlines between Bradley International Airport and Montego Bay.

The service is scheduled to launch Dec. 15 and will operate year-round, four times weekly. This is the first time that a nonstop flight to Jamaica is being offered by any airline that services Bradley International Airport.

Governor Ned Lamont and officials from the Connecticut Airport Authority and Spirit Airlines made the announcement Thursday, capping an effort from state officials and advocates to establish nonstop service to Jamaica from Connecticut’s largest airport. Connecticut is home to one of the largest Jamaican communities in the world, boasting the fifth largest population of residents with Jamaican ancestry among all U.S. states. According to census data, there are more than 56,000 residents with Jamaican ancestry in Connecticut.

"Connecticut has a significant population of residents with Jamaican ancestry, and I am proud to announce that this long-awaited nonstop service is being added at Bradley," Lamont said. "Today’s announcement with Spirit Airlines not only makes it easier for our state’s residents to directly travel to Jamaica, but it also strengthens Bradley’s reputation as one of the best and most convenient airports available. Bradley is a key economic driver for Connecticut, and the more airlines and destinations that we can add from the airport, the more attractive our state becomes to companies that are seeking to grow their own operations here. I am excited that we are partnering with Spirit Airlines to make direct travel between Connecticut and Jamaica a reality, and I look forward to the airline’s continued growth in our state."

John Kirby, vice president of network planning for Spirit Airlines, said, "Spirit Airlines is excited to launch our first ever international flight from Bradley International Airport. We sincerely appreciate our partnership with the airport and the opportunities to grow since launching service in 2017. We have tremendous teams both here in Connecticut and in Montego Bay and have proudly served Jamaica since 2005. We can’t wait to provide our Guests with More Go."

In recent years, a coalition of advocates, led by State Rep. Bobby Gibson and Caribbean Trade Council President Andrew Lawrence, assembled to help the Connecticut Airport Authority convince an airline to launch nonstop service from Bradley International Airport to Jamaica. Lamont and the General Assembly included an allocation of $2 million in the recently enacted state budget for the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development to help attract the nonstop service.

"This is amazing and welcome news to the community as Connecticut has the fifth largest population of people from the Jamaican diaspora in the United States," Gibson said. "I have long advocated for these direct flights and have continued my collaborative work to finally see this project come to fruition. I am not only excited to see families have greater access to each other, but also this will offer successful financial gain to the state."

David Lehman, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, said, "We are excited about the economic opportunities this new service unlocks for Connecticut and look forward to building on our relationship with the country of Jamaica."

"The Connecticut Airport Authority is thrilled to offer service to yet another exciting travel destination with today’s announcement of nonstop Jamaica service," Tony Sheridan, chair of the Connecticut Airport Authority Board of Directors, said. "Thank you to all of the state officials whose efforts and support were indispensable in making today’s announcement a reality."

Kevin A. Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, said, "We have pursued nonstop Jamaica service at Bradley International Airport for years now in an effort to meet our community’s needs, and we are proud to finally make it a reality with Spirit’s partnership. I have no doubt that this service will be successful, and I am proud that Bradley International Airport will be able to offer convenient connectivity for the state’s strong Jamaican population, their friends, and their relatives."