Winair resumes winter flight service to Montserrat

St Maarten-based airline Winair has resumed flights between Antigua and Montserrat, effective 1st October 2008. Carib Aviation, which previously operated the Antigua-Montserrat route, recently announced the suspension of all its flight services after 30th September 2008.

Customers who have booked to fly with Carib Aviation to Montserrat after 30th September 2008 are advised to seek a refund from the source of their booking. This includes bookings made direct with Carib Aviation, bookings made through LIAT and travel agent bookings.

Winair will operate two aircraft on the route – its nineteen-seater DHC-6 PropJet Twin Otter aircraft and its BNI seven-seater Islander aircraft. At present, bookings are being accepted up to and including 30th November 2008.

Schedule for the period 1st October to 19th October 2008:

• Winair will operate eight daily return flights between Antigua and Montserrat using the seven-seater BNI (Islander) aircraft each Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
• Winair will operate three daily return flights using the 19-seater Twin Otter aircraft each Tuesday and Wednesday. The first flight on each of these days will originate from St Maarten and fly via Nevis to Montserrat

Schedule for the period 20th October to 30th November 2008:

• Winair will operate eight daily return flights between Antigua and Montserrat using the seven-seater BNI (Islander) aircraft each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday
• Winair will operate three daily return flights using the 19-seater Twin Otter aircraft each Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday

Flight schedules beyond 30th November 2008 will be announced during October 2008.

Booking information

Booking through travel agents – Winair flights have been loaded into the GDS (Airline Global Distribution System) so travel agents can book Winair flights to Montserrat for clients (currently in the Sabre system and coming to others soon).

Booking online at fly-winair.com - Customers booking online at fly-winair.com will notice that Montserrat is currently not listed in the ‘To’ and ‘From’ menu boxes on the home page. This should be updated within a few days. In the meantime, flights to Montserrat can be booked after clicking the ‘More Options’ button at the bottom of the booking grid.

“The new airlift service provided by Winair will restore a vital air link from Antigua for Montserratians and visitors to our island“ says Ernestine Cassell, director of tourism at the Montserrat Tourism Board. “We are delighted that visitors will continue to have the opportunity to come and experience our unique culture during our annual Festival celebrations, held through December, and beyond that time.”