Jul 01 Five Caribbean destinations achieve marine protection goals ahead of schedule
ANTIGUA - Five Caribbean countries and territories were recognized for their early achievement of the ambitious marine protection target they committed to when joining the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI).
The CCI 20-by-20 Conservation Goal challenges members to conserve and manage at least 20 percent of their marine and coastal environment by 2020.
The Dominican Republic led the list of early achievers with approximately 75 percent of its marine area under protection, followed by St. Kitts and Nevis (50 percent), the U.S. Virgin Islands (44 percent), Puerto Rico (27 percent), and Haiti (23 percent).
"It is a momentous occasion to reach a conservation goal that will benefit the ocean and communities in the Caribbean for generations to come," said St. Lucia-based CCI Envoy Karolin Troubetzkoy, who honored the early achievers at a ceremony in Antigua last week.
The CCI is an innovative platform uniting government, the private sector and partners - such as funding agencies and NGOs - in a collaborative movement to conserve and sustainably manage the Caribbean's marine and coastal environments.
Launched in 2008, the CCI aims to incentivize Caribbean governments to meet their marine conservation objectives and to support them by catalyzing new funding and accelerating meaningful action. It also works to create more prosperous and stable economies - achieved through sustainable development and growth - to help ensure a more secure future for the entire region.
In congratulating the CCI "Early Achievers", Troubetzkoy noted that "recognizing these nations' successes in marine and coastal conservation is an important message to the other CCI members that getting to the 20 percent target by 2020 is not an impossible goal." She hoped to be celebrating with the remaining CCI destinations next year.
In addition to the awardees, four other Caribbean countries and territories were celebrated for taking steps to propose marine areas that will more than double their current levels of protection. These included the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Grenada and St. Lucia. The Bahamas recently announced that it will declare an additional eight-plus million acres of marine protection, which will more than double its area of protection and meet the CCI 20-by-20 target ahead of the 2020 deadline.
Source: https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/five-caribbean-destinations-achieve-marine-protection-goals-ahead-of-schedule
Jul 07 Problem at Antigua airport sees flights sent to St Kitts
St Kitts' Robert L Bradshaw International Airport became an unexpected host for American Airlines and British Airways flights after the sudden closure of Antigua's VC Bird International Airport.
The planes, which were heading to other destinations after stopping at Antigua, were grounded yesterday afternoon.
WIC News has reached out to both airlines for comment.
Stanley Smith, chief executive officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority, said the closure occurred after chemical fumes leaked into the control tower.
Delays
He said workers who were on shift had to be evacuated to safety while the tower was flushed to ensure the air was clean.
"We apologized to customers for the delay to their journey after our flight diverted to St Kitts following the closure of the control tower at Antigua Airport," a British Airways spokesman told WIC News.
"The aircraft was refuelled and the flight continued on to Antigua."
According to Antigua's Observer Media, flights headed for the twin-island nation were diverted to both St Kitts and Puerto Rico.
Operations resumed shortly after 3pm AST but by then a number of LIAT's flights were already affected, were Virgin Atlantic and BA flights from London.
Two American Airlines flights from Miami and JFK airports were diverted from Antigua and Barbuda.
Source: http://wicnews.com/caribbean/problem-at-antigua-airport-sees-flights-sent-to-st-kitts-59533470/
Jan 16 Seaborne Airlines Makes First Flights to St Kitts, Nevis
Puerto Rico-based Seaborne Airlines made its first-ever flight to St Kitts on Wednesday.
The flight, which departed from San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, continued after St Kitts to land at Nevis' Vance Amory International Airport.
Seaborne, which announced its move to Puerto Rico last month, is operating the service with 34-seat Saab aircraft with two pilots and a flight attendant.
The flights depart San Juan at 3:25 PM and arrive in St Kitts at 4:50, before departing for Nevis at 5:10 and arriving at 5:30.
The flight departs Nevis the following morning at 7 AM, arrives in St Kitts at 7:30 AM and returns to Puerto Rico at 7:50 AM.
The carrier is in the midst of a major expansion in the Caribbean, with four more 34-seat Saabs on the way this year.
Seaborne will receive an official welcome in St Kitts next week.
Source: http://www.caribjournal.com/2014/01/16/seaborne-airlines-makes-first-flights-to-st-kitts-nevis/
Nov 08 Seaborne Airlines Introduces Service to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis Continues Caribbean Fleet Growth
ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands, Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Seaborne Airlines announced today that they will launch a new route between Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) and St Kitt's Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB), with continuous service to Nevis' Vance W. Amory International Airport (NEV), beginning Wednesday, January 15th, 2014. The flights will operate daily.
Seaborne will operate 34-seat Saab aircraft with two pilots, a flight attendant and the outstanding in-flight service Seaborne is known for. Whether for local Puerto Rican visitors or connecting customers from the states, Seaborne's schedule makes Caribbean travel easy.
Departing from SJU: 3:25 PM
Arriving SKB: 4:50
Departing from SKB: 5:10 PM
Arriving NEV 5:30 PM (Customers stay on the plane at SKB)
Departing from NEV: 7:00 AM
Arriving SKB: 7:20 AM (Customers stay on the plane at SKB)
Departing from SKB: 7:50 AM
Arriving SJU 9:00 AM
"The new Seaborne routes strengthen Puerto Rico's place as a Caribbean five-star destination, with excellent air access infrastructure and flight options ", stated Ingrid I. Rivera Rocafort, Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. We are certain that the flights from St. Kitts and Nevis will make Puerto Rico even more attractive to residents and visitors of the Caribbean region by providing convenient options that fit their schedule and budget".
"Seaborne is building out an exciting new flight network between Puerto Rico and the neighboring islands," said Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister of International Transport for the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis. "This San Juan service will also add valuable capacity to the system of air bridges we have been developing between St. Kitts & Nevis and various international source markets."
"Nevis welcomes Seaborne Airlines to serve the needs of our visitors and local travellers alike.
San Juan-Nevis is a critical link between Nevis and the United States of America. The Government and people of Nevis look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship with Seaborne. This new service is excellent news for Nevis and demonstrates Seaborne's commitment to investing in and developing new markets", said Honorable Mark A.G. Brantley, Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism for Nevis.
To commemorate the launch of Seaborne's fourteenth airport in the Caribbean, Seaborne is offering fares as low as $129 one-way, with taxes included for travel. Bookings must be made by December 15, 2013 for travel by March 31, 2014. Flights can be reserved via seaborneairlines.com, Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity or through your local travel agency.
Seaborne also announced the addition of four more 34-seat Saab aircraft in the first half of 2014. "These planes will increase our Caribbean fleet to thirteen aircraft, providing travelers throughout the Caribbean with even more travel options and the service they deserve", said Gary Foss, President and Chief Executive Officer of Seaborne Airlines.
About Seaborne Airlines
Seaborne Airlines has been operating in the Caribbean for over 20 years, carrying over two million customers safely. With over 1,800 monthly departures to fourteen airports planned by January, Seaborne serves San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, Vieques, St. Thomas airport and seaplane bases, St. Croix airport and seaplane bases, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, La Romana, Dominican Republic in December and now St. Kitts and Nevis in January, 2014. All flights operate with two pilots and twin engines under Federal Air Regulation Part 121, the strictest code of the US Federal Air Regulation governing air travel.
Source: http://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Seaborne-Airlines-to-launch-San-Juan-St-Kitts-route/
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