Basseterre - July 15, 2011 --  Air Canada is to begin scheduled seasonal service into St. Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in December.
 
The weekly service starts on December 23, 2011 for the peak winter 2011/2012 travel season which ends in April 2012.
 
The non-stop flight will operate from Toronto on Fridays and will be the island’s only non-stop commercial flight from Canada, effectively making St. Kitts and its sister island, Nevis, a more viable winter destination choice for travelers from this key North American market.
 
Air Canada flight AC1778 will depart Toronto (YYZ) at 8:40 a.m. and arrive into St. Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport at 2:40 p.m. every Friday.  The same-day return flight AC1779 will depart St. Kitts at 3:40 p.m. and arrive into Toronto at 8:00 p.m.
 
Air Canada will use an Airbus 319 aircraft with 108 Economy Class seats and 12 Business Class seats for this flight.  All flights are listed in local time.  Reservations will be handled exclusively via Air Canada Vacations and their associated travel agencies.
 
The vacation package and flight program follows several weeks of planning and a recent visit to the Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator the Hon. Richard “Ricky” Skerritt by Ms. Shirley Lam, Manager Product Development, and Ms. Sylvia Costa, Manager Destination Services, of Air Canada Vacations.
 
“The addition of this programme from Air Canada Vacations is very significant for St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Senator Ricky Skerritt, who added:
 
“Canada has always been a valuable source market for visitors and investors as well as home to a large contingent of our Diaspora. I am gratified that Air Canada Vacations is adding us to their list of partner destinations this coming winter and our Government is working closely with our local hoteliers and other St. Kitts and Nevis tourism stakeholders to make full use of this opportunity to strengthen our travel and tourism relationship with Canada.”
 
The two Air Canada Vacations’ officials visited St. Kitts & Nevis hotels and other tourism partners to familiarize themselves with the destination and finalize plans for the weekly service. They were accompanied by Mr. Brad Richards, Sales Representative at St. Kitts Tourism Authority’s Toronto office.