Excel Airways arrives in St Kitts

Excel Airways 767 aircraft at the Robert L. Bradshaw 
International Airport

Tuesday, November 4, 2003

BASSETERRE, St Kitts: Britain's leading charter airline, Excel Airways landed at St. Kitts' Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport on Saturday, its first long haul flight into the region.

St. Kitts and Nevis Minister of Tourism, Mr Dwyer Astaphan welcomed officials of the airline to the Federation.

"It's really a red letter day. We are having two inaugurals today. A cruise ship from Celebrity Cruse Line, the Zenith made its inaugural call (this morning) to St. Kitts today and this afternoon a beautiful airplane with the banner, Excel Airways out of the United Kingdom landed at the airport," said Astaphan.

Excel Airways, which flew out of London's Gatwick Airport, had 240 passengers on board. 130 disembarked in St. Kitts, while the other 110 went on to Tobago.

"It is indeed a pleasure to have Excel on board with us and I understand it from the captain this is their first long haul into this area and so it is a first for them as well," noted Astaphan, who said the neighboring islands also stand to benefit from the hubbing opportunities out of St. Kitts and Tobago.

Golden Caribbean is already reporting good bookings for St. Kitts. "We are selling St. Kitts really well," a travel agent at Golden Caribbean said. While fares are available up to May next year, Excel Airways intends to fly to St. Kitts all year round. The company will operate a Boeing 767 aircraft with 281 seats and will provide three separate cabins, Excel plus, premium and economy.

Several hotels in St. Kitts including the St. Kitts Marriott, Rex Papillion, Bird Rock Beach, Frigate Bay Resort, Ottley's Plantation, Timothy Beach, Rawlins Plantat! ion and Ocean Terrace Inn are offering packages with the flight, although nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis living in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe use the opportunity to return home to visit their families.

With the construction of the Royal St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort and the Angelus, airlift to St. Kitts has increased with international flights from Philadelphia by US Airways and JFK International by Universal Airlines. US Airways has already announced a second flight out of North Carolina in December.

Caribbean Star and Caribbean Sun have also introduced service to St. Kitts and American Eagle has increased the number of seats from Puerto Rico. LIAT and WINAIR are also scheduled carriers flying into the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport.

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