On Wednesday, Caribbean regional carrier Sunrise Airways marked a major milestone in its regional expansion with the official launch of a new twice-weekly direct air service connecting Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados, a development welcomed by tourism and aviation leaders across the region as a critical step forward for Caribbean integration and economic cooperation.
The inaugural flight touched down at Barbados’ Grantley Adams International Airport just after midday, capping off years of steady growth for the airline. Founded in 2010 by former Haitian pilot Philippe Bayard, who also serves as company president, Sunrise Airways launched commercial operations in 2012 and has built its footprint across the Caribbean gradually, offering both scheduled passenger services and custom charter flights. Headquartered in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the carrier has prioritized expanding its Eastern Caribbean network in recent years, filling gaps in regional connectivity that have long limited travel and trade between island nations.
During a celebratory press briefing following the inaugural flight’s arrival, Sunrise Airways CEO Gary Stone framed the new route as a core part of the carrier’s long-term “One Caribbean” strategic vision. This vision centers on knitting Caribbean island communities closer together while unlocking new opportunities for tourism, cross-border commerce, business exchanges, and family travel across the region.
“We are incredibly proud to launch operations at Grantley Adams International Airport, located in one of the Caribbean’s most iconic and well-regarded travel destinations,” Stone stated. “This direct link from Antigua and Barbados will elevate regional connectivity, give travelers far more flexible options for cross-island trips, and allow passengers to experience the warm hospitality and industry-leading service that sets Sunrise Airways apart.”
Stone emphasized that the route launch carries far more significance than simply adding a new stop to the airline’s route map. “Today, we are not just inaugurating a new air route,” he explained. “We are strengthening commercial, tourism, and cultural ties, while driving forward inclusive economic growth and deeper integration across the entire Caribbean community.” As of 2024, Sunrise Airways has served millions of passengers across 20 destinations spanning the Caribbean, North America, and Central America, a milestone that Stone says reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to serving the region’s travel needs.
Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill echoed that optimism, noting that the new connection will deliver a substantial boost to the Caribbean’s intra-regional tourism sector. “The Caribbean remains Barbados’ third largest source market for visitors,” Gooding-Edghill shared. “Last year alone, we welcomed more than 102,000 travelers from across the Caribbean region, and with increased intra-regional air capacity, we are confident that visitor numbers will continue on an upward trajectory.”
Like Stone, Gooding-Edghill framed the launch as more than just an expansion of air service. “Today’s launch is more than the arrival of a new flight,” he said. “It is a vital step forward in deepening the bonds of our Caribbean family and strengthening intra-regional travel connectivity.” The minister emphasized that consistent, reliable airlift is the backbone of the Caribbean’s tourism industry, supporting small and large businesses, attracting foreign direct investment, and keeping extended Caribbean families connected across island borders.
Gooding-Edghill added that the route will create mutual benefits for both Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados, giving travelers a new direct option that eliminates the need for inconvenient connecting flights between the two destinations. Beyond the two core markets, the minister highlighted the ripple effects of Sunrise Airways’ broader regional network: the new link will give Barbados-based travelers improved access to 10 other Caribbean destinations, including Haiti, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Martin, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. It also opens new pathways for international travel, thanks to Sunrise Airways’ existing routes to major U.S. cities including Boston, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Newark, which could strengthen Barbados’ overall global connectivity in the long term.
“As we celebrate today’s milestone, Barbados continues to reaffirm its commitment to continuously review our options as we seek to enhance and drive more arrivals to the destination,” Gooding-Edghill added.
To serve its expanding network, Sunrise Airways operates a mixed fleet of owned and leased turboprop and jet aircraft, tailored to meet the unique needs of Caribbean travel: five Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprops, three British Aerospace Jetstream 32s, one Cessna Caravan 208, and two Airbus A320-200 jets. This fleet mix allows the carrier to efficiently handle both short-haul inter-island flights and higher-capacity long-distance routes to the United States.