We already have two American and Continental flights arriving and departing daily and a flight from us-air twice a week and this weekend another major U.S. airline found 'destination Belize.' Delta airlines, which is the second largest U.S. carrier, made the first of planned weekly trips to Belize from its hub in Atlanta, Georgia. The Delta Boeing 737 left the ATL on Saturday morning and I was there along with cameraman Fortunato Noble for the big lift-off, we got to see some of the capital of the new south.
With much fanfare Delta managers, pilots, flight attendants, and a Belize Tourism Board representative joined in the symbolic ribbon cutting at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for the inauguration of flight 1740 to Belize.
Those were the formalities and after, 100 passengers checked in and got ready to christen the Atlanta-Belize route. Included of course were some tourists and familiar faces like 7NEWS' own Indira Craig and Love FM's Rene Mendez.
A 2 hour and 10 minute airplane trip later - the plane reached its destination: Delta and its passengers landed in Belize.
Florence Daniels, Delta Passenger
"The flight was very convenient. I actually came from Chicago and connected in Atlanta and I will be doing Delta more now. Its pretty good cause I am flying 'non-rev too', that's a bonus."
"It was fun to be on the first flight."
Karen Luder, Delta Passenger
"It was great. It was so fast to get here. We left early this morning and we are here already. Its great."
Indira Craig,
Would you have otherwise come to Belize if the connection was not here? How did this play a role in making up your mind to come to Belize?
Karen Luder,
"It made it a lot easier. We were looking at Belize before flight but it sure made it a lot easier."
Easier, a lot more convenient, and more importantly a more accessible destination is what Tourism Minister Mark Espat says the new weekly Delta flight will mean for Belize.
Hon. Mark Espat, Minister of Tourism
"The Atlanta is the busiest hub in the world and it will get busier in just a few weeks time; the number of flights will go from 800 to 1200 flights. and the strong point of Delta and their Sky Team alliance is Europe and so this is a very very important flight for us and one we've been working on the last few years and so today is a momentous day for Belize."
And for the momentous day, Espat joined James Sarvis, Delta's director for the Caribbean and Latin America, at the Phillip Goldson International Airport for another ceremony with even more fanfare. Sarvis says there is reason to celebrate because delta has been looking forward to landing here.
James Sarvis, Delta Airlines Dir. for Latin America and Caribbean
"We've been looking so much forward to arriving in Belize for the first time. As you know this our first time ever. We are able to connect to the wonderful city of Atlanta which is the gateway to the future. We are very excited to be here today and offer over 1,000 flights a day for people from Belize to be able to enjoy the US and have access not only to the US and Canada in a very convenient fashion but also over the Atlantic to Europe and over the Pacific to Asia so this is a very strong bridge for us."
Indira Craig,
How flights will you be operating because I understand it starts with one. Are you planning on increasing that?
James Sarvis,
"I sure hope so. At this point we have one flight a day which will operate only on Saturdays, a Boeing 767-800. We are looking forward as the market develops to add more flights to Belize. We would be very happy to do so."
But until then Belizeans can look forward to that weekly visit from Delta and all who this major carrier will bring. The challenge for both sides is to make sure these seats are as full for every flight, not just the inaugural.
The Boeing 737 has a capacity of 150 passengers. It leaves Atlanta at 10:30 am and arrives in Belize at 12:40. For the return leg it leaves at 2:15 and arrives in Atlanta at 6:10.