American Airlines’ daily service to St. Kitts begins     
                
                                ** First Daily Non-Stop Flight from Miami Lands in St. Kitts on November 3 **
                                    ** St. Kitts Honors the Airline as ‘Tourism Partner of the Year’ **

~~Adz:Left~~ Basseterre, St. Kitts (November 4, 2008) – Marking a significant step forward for St. Kitts’ growing tourism industry, the island has just welcomed the first of American Airlines’ daily flights to St. Kitts from Miami yesterday, November 3, 2008.  News of this service increase was announced earlier this year on the heels of various domestic and international route cuts made by US-based airlines. 
 
These newly launched daily flights continue a series of recent service increases to St. Kitts by American Airlines.  American Airlines first started a Miami service to St. Kitts in December 2004 with three flights weekly, which grew to five flights in 2006.  In addition, American Airlines commenced a twice weekly service from JFK to St. Kitts in November 2007, just one year ago.
 
“American Airlines has shown continued confidence in our tourism industry,” said Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports & Culture.  “The commencement of this Miami daily service from American Airlines heralds a new era in St. Kitts’ tourism, one that is witnessing increases in demand that are directly related to the growth of the island’s authentic, nature-based tourism product and which have led up to our need to provide a daily jet service from the US, our top visitor market.”
 
In recognition of American Airlines’ longstanding support of St. Kitts, the island has recently honored it with the “Tourism Partner of the Year” Award, the top recognition given to any tourism partner.  The Award was presented at St. Kitts’ 8th Annual Tourism Awards Banquet on November 1, 2008, which marked the end of the island’s Tourism Awareness Month of activities.
 
American Airlines has ideally timed these daily non-stop flights to accommodate connecting US and Canadian travelers as well as those flying non-stop to St. Kitts. American Airlines flight #2299 departs MIA daily at 10:50 a.m. arriving into St. Kitts at 2:50 p.m.  The return flight #2280 departs St. Kitts at 3:45 p.m. arriving into MIA at 6:05 p.m.  American Airlines uses a 148-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 16 first class seats and 132 economy seats for these non-stop flights. 
 
Located in the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, St. Kitts offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history.  The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s sugar plantations, touring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, the only man-made UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean, and the more traditional vacation pastimes such as watersports, golf, shopping, tennis, gourmet dining, gaming at one of St. Kitts’ two casinos or simply relaxing on one of the island’s sandy beaches.  Guests can select from accommodations ranging from intimate plantation inns to larger hotels or resorts. 
 
For more information about St. Kitts, please contact the St. Kitts Tourism Authority toll free from the US at 1-800-582-6208 or from Canada 1-888-395-4887, e-mail info@stkittstourism.kn or visit the website at www.stkittstourism.kn.