Transport Minister Mike Henry cuts the ribbon as he welcomed United States carrier American Airlines' (AA) inaugural flight from Fort Lauderdale to Kingston at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday. Assisting the minister are Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie (right) and Phil Oliveri (left), AA regional manager, Caribbean. Looking on are Yvonne Pearson (second left), AA's country manager, and Henry's wife Dawn. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

AMERICAN AIRLINES' first non-stop flight from Fort Lauderdale to Kingston landed at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday.

Phil Oliveri, regional manager for American Airlines (AA), said the addition of the new route not only presents potentially significant benefits for the airline, but for Jamaica's tourism.

JAMAICAN IMMIGRANTS

He said the Broward county region in south Florida is the second-most populous area in the United States with Jamaican immigrants, the largest being New York City.

"It certainly provides a very convenient lane of traffic for them and gives them a choice to fly back home to Kingston," Oliveri said.

He added that the Kingston/ Fort Lauderdale route will strengthen tourism and trade for Jamaica, as it provides an oppor-tunity for tourists from south Florida to visit.

American Airlines is expected to fly the route daily with its 148-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Transport Minister Mike Henry, speaking during a welcome ceremony to mark the inaugural flight, said there was a critical need to increase traffic into Norman Manley.

Expansion COSTS UP

According to Henry, rising oil prices and other industry challenges have influenced developmental costs for expansion work now being done at the airport.

The minister said the expansion was originally slated to cost US$80 million (J$5.6 billion) but that figure has jumped to approximately US$120 million (J$8.5 billion).

"This means, therefore, that what we have to do is try to increase the (movement) of people through the airport," said Henry.