The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has thanked British Airways and all BA staff for their commitment to keeping all flights operating to and from Gatwick airport throughout the previous and pending strike periods.
Hon. John Maginley, CTO chairman said: “We were very impressed by BA’s responsiveness to supporting the Caribbean during the initial strike action. All Caribbean flights from Gatwick were ring-fenced and our guests were able to enjoy their visits as planned. We are equally encouraged by BA’s firm commitment to the Caribbean and by the contingency plans the airline has instituted to protect business to the region throughout any future strike action.”
Willie Walsh, British Airways’ CEO said: “We’re proud to fly more flights to the Caribbean than any other UK airline. Our services to the region from Gatwick have been unaffected by the dispute with the trade union Unite and will continue to operate as normal. Our cabin crew and staff at Gatwick have done a fantastic job in recent weeks and they are committed to giving excellent service to all our customers flying to the Caribbean which is a very important market for us.”
All British Airways Gatwick flights will operate as normal to Antigua, Barbados, Bermuda, Grenada, Kingston, Montego Bay, Punta Cana, St Kitts, Saint Lucia and Tobago
Caribbean economies depend strongly on visitors from the UK. The region receives 1.4 million tourists from the UK annually, representing 25 per cent of all European arrivals, and 6 per cent of total arrivals. For example, 39 per cent of tourist arrivals to Barbados are from the UK. Other islands where UK visitors are a significant part of total arrivals include: Antigua (34 per cent), Montserrat (29 per cent), Grenada (28 per cent), St. Lucia (29 per cent), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (18 per cent), Bermuda (11 per cent), and Jamaica (11 per cent).
