BARBADOS IS EXPECTED to boost its future tourist arrivals following the announcement of a new service from British charter airline Thomas Cook.
Last week, the carrier said that it would be flying to Cancun, Mexico and Barbados from Glasgow Airport during the 2015-2016 winter season. This means Barbados will have a direct link to the Scottish tourism market.
The airline said the service would “feature the new economy and premium cabins on refurbished Airbus A330 aircraft”. This was part of the carrier’s overall “long haul expansion”. Thomas Cook Airlines is based in Manchester, England.
Commenting on the announcement of additional service to Barbados, Thomas Cook Airline’s chief hotels and airlines officer Christoph Debus said: “We are really pleased to announced new routes this winter to Cancun and Barbados with an even better service.”
Glasgow airport commercial director, Francois Bourienne added: “The introduction of Thomas Cook Airlines’ direct flights to Cancun and Barbados this winter not only demonstrates its commitment to Glasgow Airport, it highlights the demand for these popular sunshine destinations.
“We are looking forward to working with Thomas Cook Airlines to develop these services and to further grow the airline’s presence at Glasgow.”
Thomas Cook Airlines has already operated its charter airline service to Barbados. Speaking two years ago after the arrival of the inaugural flight from Manchester with 300 passengers on board, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Richard Sealy said the airline’s transition from the “air to sea transport” programme involving the cruise sector to one where its passengers were staying in Barbados was a positive development.
“The flights are coming out of Manchester which is the third largest airport in the United Kingdom and, of course, it is the largest outside of the London area, and that is important as we try to get business from our largest source market that is outside of the traditional gateway,” he said. (SC)
