ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - The Antigua and Barbuda government says it is holding discussions with several other airlines following the decision of the US-based carrier, Jet Blue Airways, to discontinue servicing the route.
Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Shenella Govia, told legislators that JetBlue’s withdrawal was the result of an internal commercial decision made by the airline without prior notice to the government here.
“As per public knowledge, JetBlue, without advance notice, indicated that they had made an internal commercial decision as part of their wider strategy to redeploy their aircraft to fill the slot in Fort Lauderdale that became available through Spirit Airlines,” she said.
Govia said that the airline had also cited rising fuel prices and increasing operational costs among the factors influencing its decision to redeploy aircraft within its network.
But she said despite the development, officials from the Ministry of Tourism have already intensified efforts to secure replacement service and that the Director of Tourism for North America has been holding talks with American Airlines.
“Our Director of Tourism is currently in negotiations with American Airlines, of which I am not at liberty to disclose what is being discussed, but we look forward to greater arrivals from American Airlines,” Govia said, adding that discussions are not limited to American Airlines and that discussions are ongoing with other US airlines, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines as part of a roader strategy to maintain and expand Antigua and Barbuda’s airlift.
“Our Ministry of Tourism officials are currently in negotiation—not limited to American Airlines—but all other airlines, Delta, United Airlines, and I can assure you that for the 2026-2027 tourism period and beyond, we will see that slot being replaced or filled,” she said.
Govia said that Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez and representatives of the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) met with JetBlue officials earlier this week to discuss the airline’s decision.
According to Govia, the airline reiterated that its withdrawal was based on commercial considerations rather than issues specific to Antigua and Barbuda and maintained that tourism officials have been working diligently to ensure the destination experiences little to no
disruption from the loss of the service.
“Our Ministry of Tourism officials have been working tirelessly to ensure that it does not impact us at all,” she told legislators.
