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Loop News 18 minutes ago
United Airlines. Photo: Government of Dominica
United Airlines has announced that it will introduce a second weekly direct flight from New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport to Douglas-Charles Airport beginning in October, significantly improving air access between Dominica and the United States.
Beginning in October, flights will operate every Wednesday and Saturday. Parliament approved on Tuesday an increased guarantee from the National Bank of Dominica Ltd. from $7,307,632.35 to $12,213,003.44 to secure the new flight in accordance with the Air Service Agreement between the Discover Dominica Authority and United Airlines.
Minister for Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience and Social Security Hon. Dr. Irving McIntyre told the House that the new Wednesday flight is proposed for October 19, 2025 to April 26, 2026, and October 17, 2026 to April 24, 2027. “It will allow more flexibility for visitors who would prefer shorter vacations, for example, flying on a Saturday and return on Wednesday, or Wednesday and return on Saturday. We therefore anticipate increased stay-over-visitor arrivals, resulting in increased economic stability,” he said.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Public Works and the Digital Economy, Chekira Lockhart Hypolite, said the addition of the new midweek flight is timely. “The cessation of Silver Airlines service from San Juan resulted in the loss of 288 seats per week. This new United flight not only helps to recover the capacity, but also enhances access from New York,” she said. “It also supports diverse travel patterns from short four-day and five-day trips to full seven-night vacations, business travels, and incentive groups, all of which prefer mid-week travel options. This development signals that Dominica is not standing still. We are advancing, we are growing, and we are becoming a serious contender in the regional tourism market.”
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit praised the flight as a step forward for Dominica’s tourism industry, economic growth and efforts to strengthen air connectivity with major US markets. “The hoteliers, the taxi men, the people in the tourism business are saying to us, that they have seen a positive impact on their businesses as a result of this direct flight,” he stated. “So certainly, that flight is even more attractive to visitors and more accessible to those who come from the East Coast. That makes a huge difference from flying from New York to Miami or from New Jersey to Miami and then catching the flight to come across or even going to St Martin, et cetera. So, this is positive news.”
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the current Saturday service has shown outstanding performance, averaging a 77 per cent load factor, with some flights operating at up to 96 per cent capacity.
The Ministry noted that this achievement is part of a broader, deliberate strategy that includes improvements to the Douglas-Charles Airport, upgrades to runway and navigation systems, and the signing of air service agreements with major international carriers, including Qatar Airways.
