Flair Airlines will take off from Toronto to Kingston, Jamaica tomorrow, marking the inception of three-times weekly, year-round service to the island’s capital and largest city.
When the new Canada-Jamaica link was announced, Chief Commercial Officer Garth Lund said it was “more than just a new route” for the low-cost carrier.
Kingston in Jamaica at sunset. (photo via GummyBone / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
“It's a bridge between communities and an opportunity to create lasting memories. There is a vibrant Jamaican community in Canada who will be able to use this service to reconnect with loved ones more often at an affordable price. We look forward to welcoming travellers onboard as we embark on this exciting journey together.”
As well as offering an affordable connection to the large Jamaican-Canadian community, the new route offers opportunities for independent-minded tourists seeking an authentic Jamaican tourism experience.
A Flair Airlines plane. (Photo Credit: Flair)
Flights will depart YYZ at 7:50 am Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, arriving KIN at 12:10 pm local time. Return flights will leave Kingston at 1:10 pm, arriving in Toronto at 5:40 pm local time.
The YYZ-KIN flights will make it easier for travellers to explore less-travelled parts of Jamaica, including the famed Blue Mountains coffee-growing region, and the Port Antonio area, linked by a new highway from the capital. There’s also a growing Airbnb and VRBO scene in Kingston itself
Carey Wallace, executive director of Jamaica’s Tourism Enhancement Fund, recently described Kingston as the “new frontier” of Jamaican tourism.
“We are expanding our tourism offerings beyond the north and west coasts of Jamaica. Jamaica is big enough to have a variety of diverse offerings — you can come to one country and get so many experiences.”
Caribbean Journal calls Kingston “the unquestioned cultural heart of Jamaica,” describing a “creativity-fuelled tourism renaissance” in the city. Kingston’s most-visited tourist attraction is the excellent Bob Marley Museum, but reggae-loving tourists can get deeper into the island’s musical gift to the world at places like the Rockers International record store and the Trench Town & The Culture Yard Museum.
Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen hosted the Flair Airlines event in Toronto celebrating service to Kingston. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Flair celebrated the new Kingston route with a party at Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen, a sweet little restaurant in Toronto’s booming King St. West district. Vancouver-based Flair Airlines brand ambassador Kenny Macintyre was there, greeting industry partners, media and influencers.
Macintyre says the new route offers great opportunities for travellers seeking beyond-the-beach experiential vacations. It fits well with Flair’s goal to offer affordable access to experiential vacations.
The airline’s current marketing campaign focuses around the "Flair Anti-Gift Guide,” suggesting giving the gift of travel over “more stuff.”
"Amidst a sea of material gifts that often fade into the forgotten corners of our lives, why not offer something truly unforgettable: the gift of experiences that resonate and last a lifetime?,” the campaign asks.
Throughout December, Flair is featuring discounts and contests. For the week of December 15-21 the carrier is offering 30% off on all flights to Las Vegas, while the week of December 22-29 brings a 30% discount on all Flair flights within Canada.
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