Austin airport officials announced on Thursday that Cayman Airways will launch seasonal nonstop service to the Cayman Islands starting this summer.
The airline said the decision was based on data from the British territory’s Department of Tourism that showed Austin was “one of the largest unserved U.S. markets for Cayman travel,” with particularly strong demand during the summer vacation travel season.
“Austin has emerged as a strong and growing source market for the Cayman Islands, with steady increases in visitor arrivals over recent years, despite the absence of nonstop flights,” Cayman Airways executive Paul Tibbetts said in a news release.
The Caymanian flag carrier will offer weekly flights between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Owen Roberts International Airport in George Town starting May 24 and end service on Aug. 9. The three-hour flights will depart Austin on Sundays at 12:45 p.m., and return from Grand Cayman at 8:15 a.m. on Sundays.
The carrier will operate the flight on Boeing 737-8 airliners with 160 seats and business class options. Cayman passengers are offered free rum punch, a complementary meal, free seat selection and in-flight streaming services.
The airline currently serves just five other U.S. cities and none are in Texas, according to the airline’s website. Those cities are Miami, New York, Tampa, Denver and Los Angeles. The new flight also adds to ABIA’s growing selection of international travel options, which includes nonstops to Mexico, Canada, Europe and Latin America.
“We are answering the call from our passengers for more diverse international travel options and easier access to top leisure destinations,” airport CEO Ghizlane Badawi said in a news release. “This partnership not only strengthens our airport’s portfolio but offers Austin and Central Texas a direct, convenient gateway to one of the Caribbean’s most spectacular and beautiful destinations.”
The Cayman Islands are located in the western Caribbean Sea south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica, nearly 1,300 miles southeast of Austin as the crow flies. Grand Cayman is known for its natural features, like the white sands of Seven Mile Beach; diverse wildlife, including stingrays, sea turtles and rare blue iguanas; and high-end shopping and culinary experiences.