AIR Canada rouge’s five daily flights from Toronto to Kingston and plans to use bigger planes flying to Montego Bay should give Jamaica a much-needed boost in arrivals from the North American destination.

Jamaica has seen substantial growth in the number of Canadian visitors over the past decade, but arrivals from that market for the first five months of 2013 declined by 8.9 per cent, when compared to the similar period last year.

The reduction was the first time Jamaica saw the numbers fall from the previous year since 2003.

The discounted airline of Air Canada, which made its inaugural flight carrying 130 passengers to Jamaica on Monday, plans to increase its seat count to Kingston by 15 per cent this summer, according to Michael Friisdahl, president and chief executive officer of Air Canada Leisure Group.

Flights to Montego Bay during the period will continue to be operated by Air Canada, and the capacity will remain more or less the same as last year,

But Air Canada rouge will increase its capacity from Kingston to Toronto by a further 13 per cent, this winter, when it will also start using a Boeing 767 with 282 seats to fly from Toronto to Montego Bay — increasing its capacity to there by 56 per cent.

“In total, Air Canada rouge will be increasing Air Canada’s capacity for next winter by 35 per cent, which is a tremendous commitment to the Jamaican market,” said Friisdahl.

Tourists, which are more accustomed to north coast destinations — Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios — will now get to experience Kingston and eco-friendly Port Antonio, according to Tourism Minister Wykeham McNeill.

“With today’s arrival of the inaugural rouge flight, we expect that increase in visitors from Canada to increase for many years to come,” said McNeill.

Furthermore, Air Canada rouge’s plans to further expand its capacity could help to fuel investments in terms of hotel accommodation.

“We are driving demand, the more you drive demand, the more investments will come,” said the tourism minister. “Interestingly, a lot of our rooms are being refurbished and improved.”

Air Canada also aims to increase its capacity to Jamaica from several Canadian gateways, said Friisdahl.

For example, it will add new gateways linking Vancouver and Calgary in West Canada with Jamaica in the near term.

“Air Canada Vacations has invested in building long-term supplies and relationships with many Jamaica hotels and resort,” said Friisdahl. “With Air Canada rouge on board, Air Canada will continue to seek partnerships within the tourism industry.”