On 08OCT, an Air Canada Rouge flight landed in St. John's, Antigua, carrying 106 passengers from Toronto, marking the return of seasonal service to Antigua and Barbuda.The flight was given a welcome-back water cannon salute on the tarmac, and passengers arriving in the terminal were greeted by music, cultural dancers and token welcome gifts to the dual-island nation.
The rollout of the new service beginning 08OCT commences with a single direct flight weekly from Toronto (YYZ) to St. John’s (ANU). Service will continue to ramp up to meet the traditional demand of the holiday season, with Air Canada forecasting the eventual operation of five weekly flights at peak traffic.
Travellers from Montreal looking to fly south for the winter can look forward to once-a-week direct flights (YUL to ANU) beginning 23DEC.
“We are extremely pleased with Air Canada’s decision to both resume and increase service to our shores and look forward to extending our famous Antigua and Barbuda hospitality to our Canadian visitors,” said Colin James, Chief Executive Officer of The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority. “We know many Canadians are more than ready for a vacation and we are equally ready to provide the relaxation and escape that Canadians have been craving.”
The resumption and ramping up of Air Canada flights to Antigua and Barbuda is expected to help the country recover to pre-pandemic levels of airlift from the Canadian market.
The return of Air Canada flights to Antigua & Barbuda comes in the wake of the destination’s latest travel advisory, which has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions for passengers arriving by air, yacht, and ferry. While mass vaccinations and proactive public awareness campaigns have kept COVID-19 infection levels in the dual-island nation low, visitors are still encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing in public spaces where crowds are likely to gather. You can read the latest travel advisory here.
“Over the course of the pandemic, Antigua and Barbuda has seen a monumental, joint effort involving both the government and industry stakeholders to make the destination as safe as it can be,” said Mr. James. “With that goal now realized and our Canadian friends set to return, we are extremely excited that our guests will once again be able to experience everything our home has to offer.”
