• Submitted by: manso
• Travel and Tourism
• 11 / 30 / 2010

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Published Tuesday November 30th, 2010. SAINT JOHN - Sunwing has extended the period it will offer non-stop flights to the Cuban destinations of Varadero and Havana and the Mexican hot spots Cancun and Riviera Maya this spring.Bernard LeBlanc of the Saint John Airport says growth on Sunwing flights has been steady.

Flights to these sunny destinations begin on March 18 - about a week earlier than last year - says airport president and CEO Bernard LeBlanc, and will continue until May 22. Last year, flights ended in early May.

"It's the same destinations, but over a longer period," LeBlanc said.

Sunwing began flying out of the city about four years ago and LeBlanc says the growth has been steady.

"The first year, there might have been about 2,400 passengers," he said.

"This past year, we had about 6,600 passengers.

"Saint John has the highest Sunwing content in the province."

One of the draws is that, once passengers leave the ground in Saint John, they land directly in Cuba or Mexico without any stopovers and luggage transfers.

"It makes it a lot more convenient," LeBlanc said.

Sunwing's departure schedule includes three dates per week: Friday, Sunday and Tuesday.

"It's a good time to book, because there are some destinations that are as much as 60 per cent off," LeBlanc said.

"If someone just wants to get away and wants a cheap hotel you can probably find something, with taxes, for under $500 per person."

LeBlanc said the fact that flights are growing bodes well for the Saint John Airport.

"People are supporting it and so the people providing it say, How can we grow it?'

"If can do really well this year, let's try and push for new destinations next year," he said.
Seats on Sunwing direct flights are now on sale.

Vacation packages can be booked through local area travel agents or through the website www.Sunwing.ca.

Source: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/rss/article/1329951