The Cayman Islands is accelerating its air service push, securing new U.S. and Canadian routes while laying the groundwork for long-haul expansion tied to airport upgrades and hotel growth.
Recent wins have included Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways launching nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Cayman in December, while Porter Airlines began flights from Toronto Pearson and Ottawa. Delta Air Lines has also introduced seasonal nonstop service from New York John F. Kennedy and Detroit to Grand Cayman. Looking ahead, Cayman Airways will add seasonal nonstop service from Austin, Texas, operating Sundays between May 24 and Aug. 16.
The expansion strengthens Grand Cayman’s core North American base while signaling a broader diversification strategy. “From a U.S. perspective, there’s still a lot more business to develop for nonstop, focusing on the Midwest and Western states,” says Rosa Harris, director of tourism at the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT).
Speaking to Routes, she cited Austin as “a market with potential to accelerate visitor volumes from the Southwest,” noting CIDOT’s collaboration with Cayman Airways on the new route.
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Beyond the U.S. and Canada, CIDOT is targeting long-haul markets. “Globally, CIDOT is actively working to increase connectivity from Latin America and Europe by engaging airlines who operate long-haul service from these regions,” Harris says. The strategy includes providing “market insights, demand forecasts and comprehensive promotional support to airlines considering new services to the Cayman Islands.”
Infrastructure is central to enabling that ambition. Planned enhancements at Owen Roberts International Airport, including the addition of bridges and a runway extension, are designed to accommodate larger aircraft and support nonstop flights from Europe.
On the demand side, supply growth is underway. In 2026, the Cayman Islands will welcome two new hotels—the Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman and ONE | GT—adding nearly 500 rooms to the market.
“The Cayman Islands is a premium destination, thus our core clients are less vulnerable to economic shifts,” Harris says. As a result, CIDOT’s aviation strategy is centered on diversification and resilience. “CIDOT is focused on strengthening our aviation strategy to be more resilient by targeting new routes and by diversifying our source markets.”
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