Bonaire Announces Delta Airlines To Add Non-Stop Service Between New York And Bonaire December 20, 2008

- Special Introductory Rate of $239 Each Way Now Available -

Tourism Corporation Bonaire is pleased to announce that beginning December 20, 2008 Delta Air Lines, the world’s second largest airline, will add a weekly non-stop flight from New York to/from Bonaire.

Delta Air Lines flight #553 will depart John F. Kennedy International Airport Saturdays at 10:35 a.m. arriving into Bonaire’s Flamingo International Airport at 4:25 p.m. The return flight #554 will depart Bonaire Saturdays at 5:15 p.m. arriving into New York JFK at 9:05 p.m. Delta will use a 154 seat, 737-800 Boeing aircraft with 16 first class seats and 138 economy seats for these flights.

“We could not be more pleased with Delta Air Lines decision to add service to Bonaire from New York’s JFK airport,” said Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, Director of Tourism Corporation Bonaire. “JFK serves as such a useful gateway for Metropolitan New York, especially residents in Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut, and has convenient connections from Boston and Providence, Rhode Island. We feel confident in saying that based on metro New York historically being Bonaire’s number one tourism market, all signs are pointing to this flight being successful.”

To celebrate the new service, Delta is offering one-way special fares of $239 from New York to Bonaire (based on a round-trip purchase) for purchase by August 6, 2008 for travel between January 10 and April 4, 2009. Additional taxes/fees/restrictions apply. Fare is available for purchase only on delta.com or from a travel professional.

“We are delighted that traffic to Bonaire continues to grow, even at a time of international economic challenges,” said Burney el Hage, Commissioner of Tourism. “This is a tribute to the loyalty of Bonaire’s repeat visitors, and also demonstrates the strength of Bonaire’s product and its appeal in the US market.

Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 326 destinations in 62 countries. Delta has added more international capacity than any major U.S. airline during the last two years. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta and Delta Connection offer over 600 weekly flights to 62 destinations. Delta’s marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on more than 16,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 499 worldwide destinations in 105 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.

Located eighty-six miles east of Aruba, the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire offers year-round sunshine, low annual rainfall, pristine coral formations and the most thriving fish population in the Caribbean. Ideal for adventurers, explorers and sun-worshippers alike, Bonaire offers myriad eco-adventure activities including world renowned scuba diving and snorkeling, windsurfing, kiteboarding, landsailing, mountain biking, sea and mangrove kayaking, horseback riding, nature tours, hiking, bird watching, sailing and deep sea and bone fishing. And with a selection of accommodations ranging from full-service oceanfront resorts and condominiums to guesthouses and small inns, Bonaire has something for every lifestyle and budget.

Bonaire is the recipient of the prestigious Islands Magazine/Caribbean Tourism Organization 2008 Sustainable Tourism Award and continues to be recognized as one of the top destinations worldwide for its sustainable tourism as reported by National Geographic Traveler magazine (March 2004) and Islands magazine (December 2007), and as one of the top diving destinations in the Atlantic/Caribbean for six years in a row in the Scuba Diving magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards (2003-2008); and was designated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as having the healthiest reefs in the Caribbean (January 2008).

For more information on Bonaire contact the Tourism Corporation Bonaire in the U.S. at 1-800-BONAIRE or visit Bonaire’s official website at www.tourismbonaire.com.