Basseterre, St. Kitts (Feb. 3, 2011) – The St. Kitts & Nevis Ministry of Tourism & International Transport announces today a new and more extensive schedule for American Eagle service to St. Kitts and Nevis following meetings between Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister of Tourism and International Transport for St. Kitts and Nevis and Pedro Fabregas, President and CEO of American Eagle for Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. The April 2011 schedule will feature daily service between San Juan and St. Kitts and add a Friday/Saturday, Saturday/Sunday late evening incoming and early morning outgoing service, the timing of which will facilitate important connections at San Juan, as well as a weekly Saturday day trip service to Puerto Rico from St. Kitts. Nevis will get three non-stop flights per week from San Juan.

“I am particularly gratified by the outcome of our meetings, which has increased the existing American Eagle service to our twin-island destination and also provides new same-day weekend connections from St. Kitts to Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago with comfortable connections to American Airlines and other important carriers,” commented Senator Skerritt. “At a time when economic factors have forced American Eagle to roll back its presence in our region, I am very grateful for the positive consideration given to my requests by President Pedro Fabregas, who truly understands the importance of travel and tourism to the Eastern Caribbean.”

Schedules for the April 5, 2011 service start-up will be available from this Sunday, February 6, when they are entered into Sabre.

“I have to commend Minister Skerritt on the determination and intensity he brings to the negotiating table,” said Mr. Fabregas.  “When we first sat down, the new April schedule consisted of only four flights to St. Kitts, with service to Nevis not even on the table. We finished with daily flights to St. Kitts, three times weekly non-stop flights to Nevis and additional weekend service to St. Kitts.  We are doing all we can to facilitate our Nevis customers, but we have had to be pragmatic and use St. Kitts as the main airport for both islands. We have now what I consider a win-win agreement for both the airline and St. Kitts & Nevis,” he concluded.

Like all businesses, American Eagle must allocate its resources where it makes the most economic sense.  Recent cut backs in capacity in San Juan greatly affects smaller destinations like St. Kitts & Nevis that are at risk for service reductions or loss of service.

For more information about St. Kitts, please contact the St. Kitts Tourism Authority toll free from the US at 1-800-582-6208 or from Canada 1-888-395-4887, e-mail info@stkittstourism.kn, visit www.stkittstourism.kn, or connect on Facebook, Twitter and/or YouTube.

For more information about Nevis, please contact the Nevis Tourism Authority in the US at 1-407-287-5204, email info@nevisisland.com  visit www.nevisisland.com or connect on Facebook.