Good news for both overseas property buyers and holidaymakers considering the Caribbean Island of St Lucia. From March 27, 2011 British Airways started daily flights from Gatwick to St Lucia, increasing their schedule from five times per week. The new flights are welcomed by property developers and second home owners at developments such as The Landings, a luxury marina development in the north of the island where 70% of their buyers have been British to date.
The Mexican low-cost carrier VivaAerobus recently added to its national route network with the March 1 launch of new services from Mexico City to Ciudad Juarez, Culiacan, Torreon and Veracruz. On March 18, the company also incorporated new routes out of Guadalajara to Tuxtla Gutierrez and Villahermosa. The following week, additional routes from Mexico City to Merida were added and, starting March 25, Mexico City-Tampico.
United Continental Holdings, Inc. announced daily nonstop service between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL), beginning June 9, 2011, subject to Mexican government approval. The new service will be operated by Continental Airlines.
AeroMexico announced its latest investment program of $500 million to be carried out over a two-year period, including the addition of new aircraft to the fleet, as well as the launch of new routes to both Mexican and international destinations. In 2010, AeroMexico and its affiliate AeroMexico Connect increased its market share by 12 percent to cover 45 percent of the Mexican market.
Nica Air will fly to Mexico, Cuba and Venezuela starting this summer. The airline hopes to add routes to the United States and the Caribbean. Startup airline Nica Air plans to begin operations in Nicaragua in either June or July with routes to Mexico City, Havana and Caracas.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines celebrated the launch of its new Miami-Amsterdam route on March 21, 2011 with a music festival theme. Aboard the flight were DJs and dance fans, as well as a large group of bloggers, tweeters, journalists, travel industry professionals, clients and KLM executives.