American Airlines and American Eagle Cancel Flights to St Maarten
San Juan, Puerto Rico: Two US-based carriers have announced a reduction in their services to the Caribbean as they grapple to deal with soaring oil prices on the world market. American Airlines and American Eagle has cut and canceled virtually all flights from the US to Aruba. Further signs that not only has the increase in fuel prices made these cuts necessary, but also demand to the Aruban tourism destination. High prices of fuel are obviously going to be the public reason what is given for the cuts and cancellation of flights; however, it is obvious that if the demand for travel to Aruba far outweighed the fuel costs there would have been no need to make a decision for the cut back in air travel.
Effective September of this year, the direct AA-flights from New York to Aruba on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are going to be cancelled. American Airlines said it would no longer serve Antigua, St Maarten and Santo Domingo with jet service out of San Juan, while American Eagle announced a reduction in its Caribbean schedule from 55 to 33 daily departures out of San Juan from September 3.
In the meantime, Caribbean tourism types are freaking out. Without planes coming in, how are all those sun-seeking tourists gonna get to the islands?
Originally published by Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website, Bridgetown, in English 1759 30 May 08.
