American Airlines pushes back inaugural flight to new Turks and Caicos destination
Travelers who were hoping to fly directly from Miami this weekend on American Airlines’ inaugural flight into one of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ largely overlooked islands will have to wait.
American has had to push back the launch of its twice weekly nonstop service between Miami and the island of South Caicos in the British Overseas Territory to March 29, a spokesperson told the Miami Herald. The service was originally scheduled to start this Saturday, and would have marked the return of international flights for the first time in decades to the secluded island known for its deep-sea and bone fishing and laid-back atmosphere.
The reason for the delay is because the South Caicos Airport not yet being certified to accept international flights. Without certification, international flights cannot land.
“We look forward to our continued work with all relevant authorities and partners to ensure the airport receives certification approval to operate international commercial service,” said American Airlines spokeswoman Laura Masvidal. Customers affected by the delay will be offered a full refund of their travel itinerary or be re-accommodated on alternate flights either to Providenciales or South Caicos at later date, she added.
American’s new nonstop service on Wednesdays and Saturdays to South Caicos was planned to coincide with the opening of the new 100-room Salterra Resort & Spa, South Caicos’ second luxury resort. A Marriott Bonvoy Luxury Collection Resorts, the property is also having its official opening pushed back, the resort said. The official opening date is now March 8.
“We recently became aware of shipping delays through one of our critical suppliers that have impacted our ability to open the entire resort by February 15th and our new official opening date will now be March 8th,” said Michael Tibbets, managing director of Salterra Resort & Spa. “We will be in our soft opening phase through early March. The property is hosting friends and family during this soft-opening phase as we will not have 100% of our offerings available during these dates and we want to provide an exceptional experience that reflects the full grandeur of this incredible destination.”
Tibbets said Salterra’s management team is personally handling each booking and providing options for guests. Some have chosen to proceed with their stay during the soft opening phase while others are rescheduling based on their travel availability, and some have opted for a refund after canceling their plans.
Both development projects have been viewed as an economic plus for the island, which is home to about 1,000 of the approximate 48,000 residents who reside in the territory. In addition to Salterra, the island of South Caicos also boasts the Sailrock, South Caicos on its northern end. The resort has 12 ridge-top suites providing a panoramic view of the Atlantic, 12 beachfront villas and 11 private secluded villas on the resort grounds. Sailrock is currently adding another villa, said Janet Mick, a spokeswoman.
Mick said the resort’s management is working with travelers affected by the delay of the American’s direct service.
The new hotel accommodations and direct flight from Miami International Airport give travelers another chance to experience the Turks and Caicos other than touristy Providenciales, which has been grappling with an increase in crime and recently made headlines after an American tourist was fatally shot while out dining with friends, along with a local insurance agent. Despite those challenges, voters last week returned the governing Progressive National Party to power, giving it a second consecutive victory.
Led by Premier Charles Washington Misick, the party won 16 of the 19 seats up for grabs. The party’s winners also include E. Jay Saunders, the former deputy premier and finance minister who was unceremoniously dismissed from his cabinet posts in February 2024 by Misick amid his failed leadership bid to take over the party. But in a seeming rebuke of his firing, voters not only returned Saunders to office, he received the most overall island-wide votes in the election.
In another upset, the citizens of South Caicos rejected both the party and opposition People’s Democratic Movement to vote first-time candidate and independent Tamelle Seymour into office. The other two seats went to the oppositioi party, whose leader, Edwin Astwood, won a third consecutive term, and candidate Audric Skippings, who won his election by one vote.
This story was originally published February 13, 2025 at 7:06 PM.
