Jamaica To Host Next CTO Air Connecitvity Summit

Why It Matters

The summit could catalyze new direct routes and collaborative marketing, strengthening the Caribbean’s tourism resilience and economic diversification. It aligns with the One Caribbean vision to transform air connectivity into a growth engine for the region.

Key Takeaways

• Jamaica hosts 2027 CTO Air Connectivity Summit, Feb 23, Kingston.
• Summit targets new direct routes to Europe and South America.
• Emphasis on collaborative marketing and reducing high taxes/fees.
• CTO Airlift Study shows capacity gaps in Italy, Argentina, Chile, Brazil.
• Regional tourism arrivals rose 23.7% in 2025, reaching 2.4 million.

Pulse Analysis

Air connectivity has long been described as the Caribbean’s lifeline, a sentiment echoed at the inaugural CTO summit in Bermuda. That gathering surfaced stark data: while visitor numbers rebounded post‑pandemic, many key markets—particularly Europe and South America—still suffered from limited direct services and prohibitive airport fees. The CTO Airlift Study, released after the first summit, quantified these gaps, pointing to untapped demand for routes to Italy, Argentina, Chile and Brazil. By framing the issue with hard numbers, the study gave policymakers a concrete foundation for advocacy and investment.

The upcoming Kingston summit builds on those insights, shifting from diagnosis to action. Organizers plan workshops on constructing credible business cases for airlines, de‑risking new routes through joint marketing funds, and streamlining interline agreements across ministries of finance, immigration and tourism. A core agenda item is the reduction of high taxes and fees that have historically fragmented the intra‑Caribbean market. By fostering a collaborative rather than competitive mindset, the summit aims to unlock economies of scale, allowing smaller islands to present unified demand profiles that attract larger carriers.

If successful, the summit could trigger a cascade of economic benefits. New direct flights would shorten travel times, lower costs for tourists and business travelers, and stimulate ancillary sectors such as hospitality, logistics and real estate. Moreover, enhanced connectivity supports the broader One Caribbean vision of a resilient, integrated regional economy capable of weathering geopolitical headwinds. Stakeholders are watching closely, as the outcomes may set a template for future tourism‑aviation collaborations across emerging markets worldwide.