MONTEGO BAY, St James — Caribbean Airlines on Tuesday resumed daily flights to Montego Bay out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, restoring a key travel route.

Its flights into Jamaica were halted during the COVID-19 pandemic, but last December the airline resumed flying into Kingston three times each week. There are now plans to offer daily flights to the capital city as well. The airline’s chief executive officer, Garvin Medera, explained that the relaunch is part of the company’s broader strategic expansion plans.

He said last year the airline strengthened its connections across the French, Dutch-, Spanish-, and English-speaking Caribbean, resulting in the expansion of its network in Martinique, Guadeloupe, San Juan, and Tortola.

“But we are not stopping here. In 2025, we will continue this upward trajectory, and today’s launch is an essential part of that progress. Later this year, there will be more news to announce as we expand our reach across the hemisphere,” the CEO said during a reception ceremony held at Sangster International Airport. There were 140 passengers on board.

“This relaunch is part of Caribbean Airlines’ broader growth strategy, one deeply rooted in the people, culture, and communities we serve,” Medera added.

He noted that the airline recorded “tremendous growth” in 2024.

“We transported over two million passengers, reaffirming our role as the leading airline of the region. Our customer satisfaction score increased by 17 percentage points, placing Caribbean Airlines among the top-performing airlines globally,” said the CEO.

Meanwhile, an elated Tourism Director Donovan White stressed that Tuesday’s relaunch was more than just the return of an air route.