Caribbean air transport continues to transform with the announcement of the return of JetBlue to the Cayman Islands. In December 2025, the American airline will resume its scheduled service between Fort Lauderdale (Florida) and Grand Cayman, offering three weekly rotations to Owen Roberts airport. More than just an additional flight option, this choice illustrates the company’s confidence in the archipelago, and opens up major economic and tourism prospects for the 2025-2026 season.
A strategic route for Florida and the Caribbean
From winter 2025, JetBlue will operate this service every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. This schedule has been designed to cater for both short stays and extended vacations. The Florida market remains crucial for the Cayman Islands: geographical proximity, a strong Caribbean community in the southeastern United States and the growing attractiveness of the destination make it a priority area for development.
For the local government, this return represents confirmation. Tourism Minister Gary Rutty emphasized that the renewed commitment of JetBlue reflects the strength of Cayman’s offering and its image as a top-of-the-range destination in the region.
A fifth new route for the winter season
This recovery is part of a wider dynamic. The authorities have confirmed that winter 2025 will see the arrival of five new air routes to the archipelago. JetBlue is not an isolated player: several airlines see the destination as a potential growth area.
By multiplying direct connections, the Cayman Islands are expanding their pool of potential visitors, while reducing dependence on traditional hubs such as Miami. This is an important step towards diversifying tourist flows, and securing the sector’s economic future.
Added value for the local economy
The economic impact of JetBlue goes beyond simply increasing the number of visitors. Each arrival contributes to job creation in the hotel, restaurant, transport and leisure industries. The archipelago, already recognized as the “culinary capital of the Caribbean”, benefits directly from this additional opening.
The 300 or so restaurants and bars in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are set to benefit from increased visitor numbers. Likewise, iconic sites such as Seven Mile Beach, Stingray City and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park will see their appeal enhanced. By improving connectivity, JetBlue facilitates the enhancement of a unique natural and cultural heritage.
A particularly busy calendar of events
The arrival of JetBlue coincides with the most festive time of the year in the Cayman Islands. Between December 2025 and March 2026, visitors will be able to enjoy a rich and varied program:
- The Cayman Islands Marathon and Christmas celebrations in December.
- The Cayman Cookout, a major culinary event led by chef Eric Ripert, in January.
- Mercuryman triathlon, Coco Fest and Salon Agricole in February.
- The “Red Sky at Night” festival and St. Patrick’s Day entertainment in March.
Thanks to JetBlue’s new service , these events will benefit from a wider audience, attracting sports fans as well as fans of Caribbean gastronomy and culture.
Consolidating the appeal of tourism
The tourist attractions of the Cayman Islands are many and varied. The archipelago appeals as much to divers, thanks to its world-renowned coral reefs, as to travelers in search of relaxation or cultural experiences.
With the resumption of this route JetBlue contributes to reinforcing the image of a complete destination: paradisiacal beaches, unspoilt nature, first-rate events and local traditions. In winter, this combination is particularly attractive to North American customers looking to escape the cold.
A winning strategy for regional connectivity
The JetBlue initiative is also part of a wider strategy to develop Caribbean tourism. By linking Fort Lauderdale directly to Grand Cayman, the airline is contributing to greater regional integration, facilitating connections with other nearby islands and destinations.
For the Cayman Islands, it’s an opportunity to raise their profile in a competitive market. While other territories are investing massively in their tourism promotion, the archipelago has chosen to focus on the quality of its offer and its enhanced accessibility. The arrival of JetBlue illustrates this strategic positioning.
JetBlue to resume Fort Lauderdale-Grand Cayman service is much more than a technical announcement. It reflects a winning partnership between a leading American airline and a booming Caribbean destination.
By supporting market diversification, boosting cultural events and consolidating the local economy, this new air route demonstrates the central role of transportation in tourism development. For the Cayman Islands, it promises a lively winter season and increased visibility on the North American market.
The expansion of theAmerican Airlines network marks a milestone in connectivity between the United States and the Cayman Islands. This new daily service between Miami and Grand Cayman, which will begin on October 6, 2025, is not just another announcement: it embodies the desire to connect two major hubs, while meeting a growing demand from travelers in search of sun, heavenly beaches and new experiences.
A new daily service: Miami - Grand Cayman
From October 6, 2025, American Airlines will offer a daily flight between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Grand Cayman’s Owen Roberts Airport (GCM). Arrival in Grand Cayman is scheduled each evening at 7:05pm, with a return flight the following morning at 8:30am. This frequency, in place until November 1, 2025, offers unprecedented flexibility for travelers, whether tourists or residents wishing to reach Miami with ease.
Why is this route so strategic? Miami has always been a privileged gateway to the Caribbean. By adding this evening flight, American Airlines is not only meeting strong seasonal demand, but also facilitating connections for those arriving from other US or international cities, making Grand Cayman more accessible than ever.
A bet on growth: the reasons for expansion
This expansion byAmerican Airlines is no accident. According to Gary Rutty, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Business Development for the Cayman Islands, this increase in air capacity is the fruit of an ambitious strategy led by the Department of Tourism. The aim? To support the growth of the sector, attract new visitors and offer more options to residents.
The choice of launching this flight during a traditionally quieter period (October-November) is also revealing: this is a full-scale test, a “preamble” to the high winter season. Tourism Director Rosa Harris sees it as an opportunity to demonstrate the market’s potential, and to encourage American Airlines to make the route permanent if it proves successful.
Concrete benefits for passengers
This new American Airlines service brings tangible benefits. Firstly, it facilitates same-day connections via Miami, a major advantage for travellers coming from different parts of the United States or elsewhere. No need to wait overnight in Miami: the sequence of flights becomes smoother and more convenient.
Secondly, residents of the Cayman Islands now have an additional option for traveling to Miami, whether for business, study or leisure. This added flexibility is welcomed by local authorities, who see it as a lever for boosting trade and strengthening ties between the two destinations.
In terms of fares, American Airlines offers round-trip economy class tickets from US$325 between Miami and Grand Cayman, making this trip attractive and accessible to a wider public.
American Airlines' commitment to the region
The initiative doesn’t stop there. American Airlines has also announced an increase in its daily flights between Chicago O’Hare and Grand Cayman from December 18, 2025, until April 2026, the peak tourist season. This strategy is part of a wider expansion drive, with new routes and a significant increase in capacity to sun destinations.
The close collaboration between American Airlines and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism was decisive. At the CAPA Airline Leader Summit – Americas and the GAD Americas Summit in April 2025, local teams were able to convince the airline’s decision-makers of the strength of the market and its growth prospects, highlighting the forthcoming increase in the hotel offer and the boom in vacation rentals.
Future prospects for tourism in the Cayman Islands
The arrival of this new American Airlines flight comes at a time of unprecedented tourist dynamism for the Cayman Islands. In 2025, the destination has already recorded a 5.3% year-on-year increase in visitors, with over 144,000 tourists welcomed in the first quarter. The United States remains the main outbound market, accounting for over 83% of arrivals.
At the same time, the hotel offering continues to expand: the forthcoming openings of the Grand Hyatt, the Kailani Grand Cayman (Curio Collection by Hilton) and the 1GT Hotel promise to attract a diverse clientele, from business travellers to families in search of relaxation.3. Summer promotions, such as the “seventh night free”, further enhance the destination’s appeal.
This dynamism is matched by a varied calendar of cultural and sporting events, from the Flower Sea Swim to music and art festivals, offering visitors a thousand and one reasons to (re)discover Grand Cayman.
American Airlines’ new daily service between Miami and Grand Cayman symbolizes much more than just an additional flight: it reflects the industry’s confidence in the potential of the Cayman Islands, and its desire to build lasting bridges between the United States and this pearl of the Caribbean. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a curious traveler in search of adventure, this new route offers unprecedented flexibility and accessibility, while supporting local economic growth. It remains to be seen whether this gamble will be transformed into a lasting success… but one thing is certain: the skies are opening up, and the horizon is widening for Grand Cayman thanks to American Airlines.
The Caribbean Culture Fund (CCF) has announced its second cohort of grantees, awarding twenty-five grants to creatives and cultural organizations in Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Curaçao and the Cayman Islands. These projects receive a total of USD 400,000 in funding. These grants, awarded in three categories – Migration, Archiving & Memory, and Caribbean Collaboration – support initiatives that preserve and enhance Caribbean heritage, analyze the cultural impact of migration, and encourage regional artistic cooperation. The Caribbean Cultural Fund thus confirms its commitment to culture diversity and regional creativity.
Subsidy categories
The selection process was carried out by a jury of experts from the eligible countries. Raymona Henry-Wynne, Executive Director of the Saint Lucia Cultural Development Foundation, participated in the evaluation of this second cohort. She describes the experience as “a revealing insight into the immense creative potential of the region”.
Migration
Five projects have been awarded grants of USD 10,000 each to explore the cultural impact of migration and strengthen links between territories. They include:
- Narratives of Change (Cayman Islands)
- Mama Baranka (Curaçao)
- Bigidi (Guadeloupe)
- Para Impresionar ¿A Quién? (Puerto Rico)
- Lakay (andépandans) (Saint Lucia)
Archiving & Memory
Ten projects have also been awarded grants of USD 10,000 each to document and conserve Caribbean heritage:
- Bon Kabei (Good Hair) (Curaçao)
- Cinuca (Guadeloupe)
- I Am Lolita Lebrón (Puerto Rico)
- Matronas de las Luchas (Puerto Rico)
- MAC en el Barrio Digital Archive (Puerto Rico)
- Mujeres del Cine Boricua (Puerto Rico)
- Paradoja en el Paraíso (Puerto Rico)
- Bolom Birth (Saint Lucia)
- Machete, Masquerade & Memory (Saint Lucia)
- O.N.G. (Operation Nex’ Generation) (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Caribbean collaboration
Ten projects promoting artistic cooperation across the region received grants of USD 25,000 each:
- News from MAF (Guadeloupe/French Guiana)
- Pawòl a Mas (Guadeloupe/Saint Lucia/Trinidad and Tobago)
- Temporal: Sanando el Cuerpo y la Tierra (Puerto Rico/Barbados)
- Conjunto Antillano (Puerto Rico/Dominican Republic/Cuba)
- Bridging the Archipelago (Puerto Rico/Dominican Republic)
- La Memoria de la Arcilla (Puerto Rico/Cuba/Dominican Republic)
- It Takes a Village: Honoring Caribbean Matriarchs (Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Entre Cosmovisiones y Resistencia (Puerto Rico/Guadeloupe/Aruba)
- Hairouna Film Festival (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines/Haiti)
- Music, Film & Storytelling (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines/Trinidad and Tobago)
Impact of the Caribbean Culture Fund
According to CCF Executive Director Kellie Magnus, “the success of our first cohort has enabled us to raise additional funds, making our second cohort even more significant. We believe in regional cooperation and are enthusiastic about opening up new opportunities for creative people in the Caribbean”. The Caribbean Culture Fund thus becomes a key player in the structuring of the regional cultural sector.
Victoria Apolinario, a Dominican filmmaker and beneficiary of the first cohort, illustrates this impact: “Thanks to the CCF, I can now say that I am the coordinator of Muestra Karibe, a cinematographic space dedicated to the Caribbean and its diasporas. It’s more than a professional advancement, it’s also a way of taking a stand, a way of making our artistic identities more visible”.
Wizeman Seide, a Haitian culinary artist, confirms that the CCF is “much more than financial support: it’s a real springboard. It gives legitimacy to cultural initiatives and opens up new horizons”. This support from the Caribbean Culture Fund represents a major step forward for the development of cultural and creative industries.
Future prospects
The mission of the Caribbean Culture Fund is to support creators in the Caribbean by reducing financial barriers and encouraging artistic development. Funding for this second cohort was provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Open Society Foundations. To build on this momentum, the Caribbean Culture Fund is preparing to launch new initiatives, including a matching grants program to attract other cultural funders.
In addition, an online database of funding opportunities will be made available to artists for simplified access to resources.
The Caribbean Culture Fund plays a major role in promoting and developing regional artistic creation. By supporting local initiatives and fostering collaborations, the Caribbean Culture Fund contributes to enriching Caribbean cultural expression, while offering it new prospects for expansion.
