A new air link is reinforcing connectivity across the Caribbean. On March 3, 2026, regional carrier Sunrise Airways inaugurated a new non-stop service connecting Santo Domingo with St. John’s, linking Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) to V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU).
The inaugural arrival was welcomed with an official ceremony at V.C. Bird International Airport attended by government officials, airport representatives and executives from Sunrise Airways. The new route operates twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, using Embraer ERJ140 regional jets configured with a single class and seating for up to 30 passengers.
For the region, the route represents another step toward improving intra-Caribbean air connectivity—an issue that continues to shape economic integration and mobility between island states.
Antigua positioning itself as a regional aviation hub
Authorities in Antigua and Barbuda view the new service as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s role as a regional aviation platform. According to Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Charles Fernandez, the connection with Santo Domingo contributes to improving regional integration while supporting the country’s tourism-driven economy.
The government has invested approximately US$50 million in infrastructure upgrades at V.C. Bird International Airport in recent years, aimed at enhancing operational capacity and supporting increased airlift. Officials argue that Antigua’s geographic position in the Eastern Caribbean gives the island a natural advantage as a regional gateway for travel, business and tourism.
The development of aviation infrastructure is also extending beyond Antigua itself. Authorities highlighted that Barbuda now operates its own international airport, allowing easier access between the two islands and offering arriving passengers additional travel options within the country.
Sunrise Airways expands its Eastern Caribbean network
For Sunrise Airways, the new route fits into a broader expansion strategy across the Eastern Caribbean. The airline began expanding into the sub-region in May 2024, gradually building a route network designed to strengthen regional connectivity between island economies.
The Santo Domingo hub plays a central role in that strategy. From the Dominican Republic, Sunrise Airways is seeking to create more seamless links between the Eastern Caribbean and larger gateways across the Americas.
Company representatives emphasize that Antigua is a key node within this network. Its combination of strong aviation infrastructure, established tourism demand and strategic geographic position makes it an attractive destination for developing regional routes.
Air connectivity as a driver of regional economic integration
Beyond tourism flows, regional aviation links remain critical to the Caribbean’s economic functioning. Limited direct connections between islands have historically complicated business travel, cargo movement and trade integration.
Improved airlift can therefore generate wider economic benefits. According to airline executives, stronger connectivity facilitates commercial exchanges, supports supply chains and improves mobility for professionals operating across multiple Caribbean markets.
The new route may also serve an important social dimension. Officials note that approximately 14,000 residents of Dominican origin live in Antigua and Barbuda, meaning the connection offers a direct travel option for diaspora communities moving between the two territories.
Strengthening links between the Dominican Republic and the Eastern Caribbean
The Santo Domingo–Antigua service highlights the growing role of the Dominican Republic as a regional aviation hub linking the Caribbean with North and South America. By reinforcing connections between the Dominican Republic and Eastern Caribbean destinations, airlines aim to create a more integrated regional air transport network.
For Antigua and Barbuda, the route supports ambitions to strengthen V.C. Bird International Airport’s position as a regional gateway. For Sunrise Airways, it represents another step in building a network designed to connect Caribbean economies more efficiently.
As Caribbean governments and airlines continue to search for solutions to longstanding connectivity challenges, initiatives such as this route illustrate how targeted regional links can contribute to building a more integrated aviation ecosystem across the region.
