American Airlines to expand territory's links with Miami

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Jan. 27--The V.I. Tourism Department announced Wednesday that American Airlines will increase nonstop jet service from Miami to St. Croix and St. Thomas starting in June.

The additional flights will increase air capacity by 2,600 seats per week. Tourism officials said the move signifies the highest airlift growth on American Airlines to any Caribbean destination with the exception of San Juan and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Beginning June 10, American Airlines will increase its service from Miami to St. Croix to two daily nonstop Boeing 737 flights.

On St. Thomas, the existing two daily, nonstop Boeing 737 flights from Miami will be increased daily to three.

"As the region faces diminished service on American Airlines from Puerto Rico, it is encouraging that our partners at the airline are taking proactive steps to ensure continued robust jet service to the territory from their Miami hub," Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty said in a written statement. "We continue to work closely with all of our airline partners to build demand and increase service to the Territory."

Over the last year, the Tourism Department has worked with airlines to provide more than $3 million in cooperative marketing initiatives to support airlift to the territory.