The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) made its mark at Routes World 2023, which took place in Istanbul, Turkey, from Oct. 15-17. This international event united leading airlines, airports and global aviation stakeholders with a shared goal of devising strategies to drive the growth of air services and promote global economic development.
The USVI delegation, led by Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of Tourism for the U.S. Virgin Islands, engaged in a series of highly productive meetings with major airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest, Spirit Airways, JetBlue and Air Canada, among others. These discussions focused on key growth strategies, fostering new gateways in high-demand markets, increasing capacity on established routes, and addressing seasonality fluctuations.
Commissioner Boschulte said, “Our participation at Routes World 2023 was a tremendous success. We were delighted to engage with top airline executives and share our data-driven market analysis. This information showcased our destination’s immense potential and demonstrated our commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.”
The USVI’s comprehensive market insights impressed the airlines, further bolstering their excitement to continue the strong performance the territory has been experiencing. Many airlines intended to review the USVI and the shared data during their upcoming analyst meetings, scheduling decisions and network planning discussions.
The USVI enters the winter season of 2023/2024 with a robust capacity and strong yields. The statistics are compelling, with the USVI-Continental U.S. route showcasing a remarkable year-over-year growth of 26% compared to 2019. Winter 2023/2024 is projected to witness a significant 33% year-over-year growth compared to Winter 2019/20 and an impressive 18% increase compared to 2022/23.
In particular, St. Thomas (STT) anticipates a 25% year-over-year growth in Continental U.S. Winter 23/24 projections compared to Winter 2019/20. YTD September reflects a remarkable 20% year-over-year increase compared to 2019.
St. Croix shines with projections for Continental US Winter 23/24, displaying an extraordinary 70% year-over-year growth compared to Winter 2019/2020. YTD September showcases a substantial 25% year-over-year growth compared to 2019.
Despite challenges in all markets, the USVI remains confident in the unwavering support of its airline partners and the promising future. Routes World 2023 was an unparalleled opportunity for the USVI to cultivate essential collaborations and dialogues with global aviation stakeholders.
For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands and its offerings, visit https://www.visitusvi.com/.