Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, today welcomed the announcement of Emirates Airline’s new weekly scheduled flights between Dubai and Montego Bay, Jamaica, starting on April 10, 2025. The flights, which will operate via Frankfurt, Germany, are a major achievement for Jamaica’s tourism sector and the result of years of advocacy and strategic discussions led by Minister Bartlett and his team, including Minister of State, Sen. the Hon. Delano Seiveright; Director of Tourism, Donavan White, and Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Chairman, John Lynch, supported by key tourism partners.
Emirates will operate the route with a Boeing 777-300 aircraft. Minister Bartlett further noted that “the new service, facilitated through a codeshare agreement with German airline Condor, will significantly expand Jamaica’s reach in the Middle East and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, bringing more opportunities for both tourism and trade.”
“This is indeed a mega achievement for Jamaica’s vibrant tourism sector,” said Minister Bartlett. He underscored that: “It is the culmination of years of effort, dating back to 2021 when we first met with representatives of Emirates to explore the possibility of opening up the Caribbean gateway. This flight service signals Jamaica’s expanding footprint in the global tourism market, and it also opens the door for trade linkages, allowing our agricultural and manufacturing sectors to access the lucrative markets of the Middle East.”
“This new flight arrangement will position Jamaica as one of the gateways to the Caribbean from the Middle East and this strategic partnership should see more visitors from the Middle East visiting Jamaica and the Caribbean and vice versa,” Minister Bartlett noted. He stressed that this new route is not just a victory for tourism but Jamaica’s economy. “Emirates flying to Jamaica will create new opportunities for our manufacturers, agricultural producers, and entertainers. This is a key step in driving multi-destination tourism and strengthening the supply side of the sector,” he added.
The new flight service will operate weekly on Wednesdays, and it is expected to further diversify Jamaica’s visitor base while enhancing trade and cultural exchanges. The flights between Frankfurt and Montego Bay will be operated by Condor Flugdienst GmbH.
SEEN IN IMAGE: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, (3rd L) pauses for a photo following discussions with Senior Executives of Emirates Airline, Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer (3rd R); Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President, International Affairs (2nd R) and Kahlid Bel Jaflah (R), Divisional Vice President Commercial Operations United Arab Emirates and Oman. Also pictured are Senator the Hon. Delano Seiveright, Minister of State, Ministry of Tourism (L) and Director of Tourism, Donovan White. The meeting was held at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai on May 9, 2024.
