American Airlines is expanding its Caribbean pre-testing program to the US Virgin Islands, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

Starting Dec. 9, American Airlines will be the first airline to launch pre-flight testing on flights from the U.S. to the US Virgin Islands. 

“As we continue to reopen travel throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, we have been looking for ways to simplify our customers’ travel experience. Our preflight testing program and our recently launched mobile app trial are essential tools that will help our customers return to the skies,” said Juan Carlos Liscano, Vice President of Operations for Miami, the Caribbean and Latin America. “American is the leading U.S. airline in the region and we are committed to helping restart travel and tourism in the countries we serve.”

That will include flights to St Thomas from Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, Chicago and Philadelphia, along with flights from Miami and Charlotte to St Croix. 

American is offering an at-home testing option ahead of flights in partnership with a company called LetsGetChacked, with results typically received within 48 hours on average. (Here’s more on the AA program)

American Airlines launched its pre-flight testing program in the Caribbean in October, and now offers pre-flight testing on all of its flights from the United States to Belize and Grenada, Saint Lucia.

“The US Virgin Islands is pleased to announce its participation in the preflight COVID-19 testing program offered by American Airlines through LetsGetChecked. Through this initiative, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to keeping our residents and visitors safe and healthy during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of Tourism for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“This easy-to-use, at-home solution adds another layer of protection and confidence for those traveling to the Territory, allowing them to focus on their unique reasons for choosing the USVI,” he said.

You can find more on the US Virgin Islands’ testing protocols at the USVI Travel Portal. 

— CJ

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Caribbean Airlines is relaunching its flights between New York and Montego Bay, Jamaica, the carrier said this week. 

On Dec. 19, the Trinidad-based airline will resume the route, with flights from Montego Bay to New York on Saturdays and Sundays and from New York to Montego Bay on Fridays and Saturdays. 

The carrier is also resuming flights between Toronto and Kingston, with flights on Wednesdays and Sundays. 

“We are pleased to offer our customers travel options during the upcoming peak holiday season,” said Garvin Medera, CEO of Caribbean Airlines. “Despite this being a challenging year for the aviation industry, our teams continue to work to provide customers at our active networks, the choice of safe, reliable travel.” 

For more, visit Caribbean Airlines. 

— CJ

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When the first Caribbean destinations began reopening in June, the travel world was filled with uncertainty. But in the six months since, the Caribbean has sent a message to the world that tourism reopenings can largely be done in a safe, effective manner — an important step for the future of the most tourism-dependent region on earth.

Of course, not everyone is returning to traveling, and every traveler needs to carefully consider their trip and the risks.

But a growing number of visitors are returning to the Caribbean — and that’s why we’ve brought back our monthly edition of Places to Go.

If you decide to go, make sure you do so while being conscious of everyone around you — most importantly, the people of the communities you’re visiting.

And when you travel, wear a mask, practice safe hygiene and please comply with each destination’s health protocols — each of which we’ve linked to below.

The Bahamas Last month, The Bahamas entered the newest phase of its tourism reopening, one that eliminated the quarantine requirement and opened up most of the country’s hotels (and its ever-popular boating sector). It should be noted that the reopening is country-wide, meaning all of the major islands are ready to welcome you back, with a different island for every type of traveler.

For adventure, make the journey to Andros and the Small Hope Bay Lodge; for a cosmopolitan getaway, try Nassau (where top hotels like Atlantis and the Baha Mar reopen this month, along with already-relaunched mainstays like Graycliff) for undiscovered beaches and private villas, there’s Grand Bahama. For historic charm, there’s Harbour Island. For boating, get a charter boat in Abaco.

You can find the country’s travel protocols here, headlined by negative PCR result within five days of your flight to The Bahamas.

The post From The Bahamas to St Kitts, 7 Places to Go in December appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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