American Airlines launches the first direct flight to British Virgin Islands
Reaching one of the top island destinations just got easier. Last week American Airlines launched the first-ever direct flight to the British Virgin Islands. On June 1, the three-hour flight took off from Miami International Airport and landed at Beef Island.
According to Travel + Leisure, the launch of this flight means travelers no longer have to connect through Puerto Rico or St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. British Virgin Islands Premier Natalio Wheatley spoke with the outlet about the importance of the new route.
“This is the first time in history that a flight has completely sold out in such a short amount of time, and we are grateful that American Airlines has partnered with us to bring this long-awaited service to fruition, bringing ease and accessibility to our treasured destination,” he said in a statement to Travel + Leisure. “Miami is the ideal hub to attract more North American travelers to the Sailing Capital of the World!”
The new route requires some strategy to book. It operates seasonally through August 14, pauses for the fall, and restarts in November. The government is preparing for the new route to bring more than 2,100 monthly island visitors. For now, the direct flight departs from Miami at 10:07 a.m. and arrives at Terrance B. Lettsome Airport at 1:06 p.m. Return flights leave BVI at 1:47 pm and land back in Miami at 4:25 pm.
The British Virgin Islands consists of 60 different islands and cays. Because of BVI’s location just east of Puerto Rico, travelers would first have to stop there before making it to their final destination.
According to the outlet, the new flights are a big hit with travelers as they have already sold out. The airline has added additional flights on several dates during June. American Airlines has also added several other direct routes to its offerings this year. For more information and to book a flight, visit AA.com.
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her favorite things to cover include “person of interest” pieces, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything about Beyoncé. Her bylines can be found in Blavity, Black Excellence, Signature Bride, Black Wall Street Times, and HipHop Weekly. Martie can be reached via email at martiebowser@detourxp.com.
This story was originally published June 7, 2023 at 1:22 PM with the headline "American Airlines launches the first direct flight to British Virgin Islands."