JetBlue to make inaugural flight to Argyle International on Wednesday

The US carrier, JetBlue is due to make its inaugural flight from New York to St Vincent’s Argyle International Airport (AIA), on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, and three Vincentians are expected to play key roles on this flight.

Among the crew and staff will be Stephanie Austin, the lead flight attendant who was born in New York, and is the daughter of Vincentian Gideon “Fessy” York, a renowned business and cultural icon within the Vincentian diaspora community in New York.

Her role as lead flight attendant symbolizes the deep connection between the diaspora and the homeland, the Authority said in a release.

Additionally, two members of JetBlue’s IT team, Nigel Hewitt and Ronald Porter Jr., will be on the inaugural flight. Nigel, born in New York, is the son of Clem Hewitt, a key figure in Vincentian cultural history as a member of the famous Bridge Boys Carnival Band of the past. His presence on this flight serves as a link between generations of Vincentian cultural preservation.

Porter Jr., was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He is the nephew of the late Robert Milton Cato, the country’s first Prime Minister.

As JetBlue launches this new route, it is particularly meaningful that members of the Vincentian community—both in New York and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines—are an integral part of this journey, showcasing their dedication and talent, the Authority’s release also noted.

It added that the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is excited about the new JetBlue service, which will not only boost tourism, but also foster deeper ties between Vincentians in the diaspora and their home country.

Minister of Tourism, Carlos James, expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming flight.

“The arrival of JetBlue’s inaugural flight to our shores is not just a momentous occasion for tourism, but a symbol of the strength and unity of the Vincentian people, both at home and abroad,” he is quoted in the release as saying.

“This inaugural flight marks a new era of connectivity, further solidifying St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a growing hub in the Caribbean for travellers and businesses alike.”