United Airlines has significantly increased its flights to Jamaica by over 50% since 2019, a move warmly welcomed by Jamaica's Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. This announcement came following a meeting last week between United Airlines' top executives and Minister Bartlett, along with his senior team, at United's World Headquarters.

United Airlines, a leading American carrier based at the Willis Tower in Chicago, operates an extensive domestic and international network, connecting six continents from its seven mainland U.S. hubs. Minister Bartlett expressed his satisfaction with the growth, stating, "Jamaica continues to be in high demand, and this increase by one of the largest U.S. airlines proves that the partnership between the destination and airline has been fruitful and is strong. We pride ourselves on being one of the most connected destinations through our network of airline partners who form a core part of driving our tourism growth."

Senior representatives from United Airlines shared that the airline will operate its largest schedule to Jamaica this year, with a 15% increase in flights compared to 2023. They also emphasized the importance of Jamaica’s Sangster International Airport (MBJ), which remains their third-largest Caribbean destination. In 2024, United will serve MBJ from five of its hubs, offering up to 34 total weekly flights.

Minister Bartlett also highlighted Jamaica’s strong post-COVID tourism growth, noting the consistent demand for the island. "To have one of the largest airlines out of the U.S., our main source market, increase its service says a lot about our partnership and how attractive Jamaica is as a destination. There is no doubt that our unique and authentic tourism offerings continue to make visitors want to come to our shores," he said. Donovan White, Director of Tourism, echoed these sentiments.

As summer approaches, United Airlines is seeing strong load factors for flights to Jamaica from several of its hubs, including New York/Newark, Houston, Washington D.C./Dulles, Chicago, and Denver, indicating a robust travel season ahead.