Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 23, 2018 (SKNIS): St. Kitts and Nevis had much to celebrate on December 22 as the Federation not only welcomed for the first time Sun Country Airlines, but also welcomed the largest number of flights and passengers in any given day.
Sun Country Flight SY777 touched down to the RL Bradshaw International Airport and was greeted by a water salute from the Fire Department. As passengers disembarked the airplane, they were entertained to a masquerade performance.
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“Today is indeed a historic occasion as it is the first time Sun Country Airlines is servicing our twin island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Lindsay Grant, speaking at a welcoming ceremony at the airport. “Further, Sun Country’s peak season from Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the first ever non-stop service from the upper Midwest and so we are thankful for that…welcoming a new airline to St. Kitts is an official duty that brings me great pride and privilege.”
Minister Grant said that visitors from the United States now have an easier and more convenient way to reach St. Kitts and Nevis.
Sun Country’s Flight SY777 arrival on the historic day was credited to the relationships the countries have with the various airlines, said Minister Grant.
“As a government, we have given high priority to our relationships with the airlines and we hope that we will have an excellent relationship with Sun Country as we expand our airlift from the United States- our largest source market,” he said.
Prime Minister, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, thanked Sun Country Airlines for contributing to the historic occasion.
In welcoming the captain, crew and passengers, Prime Minister Harris said “we want to offer our thanks to the captain for making this inaugural visit a safe one. All of the passengers with whom we interacted as they descended the steps indicated that they had a lovely experience.”
“Today is a very special one and we are very pleased that as history is being made at our international airport Sun Country is part of that history,” he said
Premier of Nevis, the Honourable Mark Brantley, said that securing the Sun Country Airlines to fly to St. Kitts took a lot of effort and tireless work to make it a possibility.
“This is Christmas and what better Christmas present could we ask for than a new flight, a new airline landing here at the peak of the season, and a new airline and a new flight coming from the upper Midwest for the very first time,” said the premier.
“On behalf of our Sun Country Airlines and the flight crew today, we appreciate you all joining us. We had a great flight down. The view was incredible as we came in. Our passengers were very happy and we look forward to having many more flights down here,” the captain of Sun Country Airlines SY777 said.
The Premier of Nevis, the Honourable Mark Brantley, and the CEO of the Nevis Tourism Authority, Greg Phillip, and the team from the Nevis Island Administration lead the initiative to secure the flight. The St. Kitts Tourism Authority provided technical assistance to the Nevis team.
