Montego Bay, Jamaica -- June 11, 2007 -- Delta Airlines began its non-stop flight service from John F. Kennedy (JFK) International in New York to Montego Bay on Saturday (June 9) touching down at the Sangster International Airport with 130 passengers on board.

The inaugural flight was welcomed by representatives from the Jamaica Tourist Board, Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other stakeholders.

Vice President of Commercial Operations at Montego Bay Jamaica (MBJ) Airports Limited, Preston Jennings, in his remarks at a brief welcome ceremony held at the airport, said that his company is pleased to welcome the Delta Airlines flight and expressed confidence that the arrangement will be beneficial to the people of Jamaica.

"I think we all recognize the significance of direct airline and air services in fostering economic growth and employment and forging international trade and cultural links," he stated.

Mr. Jennings noted that as tourism continues to grow in the Caribbean and particularly in Jamaica, "we continue to add new destinations for our customers traveling to and from Sangster International Airport and we are very confident that this growth trend will continue".

He further thanked Delta Airlines "for all the time and effort that you have committed in developing this new air service between New York and Montego Bay and we at Sangster International Airport are pleased to further our relationship."

Manager of the JTB's St. James Office, Clive Taft, said that tourism in western Jamaica will undoubtedly benefit from this non-stop flight arrangement.

He noted that the new service by Delta comes at a time when "we are having tremendous growth in the accommodation sector with several hotels being built in various parts on the island, including developments here at Sangsters," while in 2006, Jamaica had its best year ever in tourism, with significant increases in stopover and cruise ship arrivals.

"We welcome the business that you have given us over the years and look forward to the continuation of that tremendous partnership, which was started in 1955," Mr. Taft said.

Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Cecil Davis, who was also on hand said that airlines continue to demonstrate great confidence in Jamaica and Montego Bay in particular