Local dignitaries in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island greet the inaugural flight passengers arriving on WestJet from Toronto, Canada on November 2, 2009. Photo: Derek Carroll
By The Bahamas Weekly News Team
Freeport, Bahamas - WestJet today launched their new non-stop service between Toronto, Canada and Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. The inaugural flight departed Toronto's Pearson International Airport at 10:30 a.m. and arrived approximately at 1:40pm in Freeport. 120 persons were on board for the inaugural flight. The Ministry of Tourism hosted a welcome reception at the airport complete with red carpet arrival, Junkanoo performers, and a brief reception with refreshments.
The WestJet Team and Bahamas Minister of Tourism and Aviationm the Hon. Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace and Executive Vice President of the Grand Bahama Tourism Board, James Turner pose in front of the first WestJet plane to fly in direct from Toronto, Canada on November 2, 2009. Photo: Derek Carroll
On hand to welcome the WestJet group was Minister of Tourism and Aviation the Hon Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Minister of Works and Transport the Hon Neko Grant, Minister of State for Finance and Public Service the Hon Zhivargo Laing; Chairman of the Grand Bahama Port Authority; Hannes Babak, President of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, Greg Moss; Bishop Sobig Kemp, President of the Grand Bahama Christian Council; and and many other prominent business persons, and members of the Ministry of Tourism.
The following is from a a press release issued today from WestJet:
"Freeport is one of the most popular destinations in the Bahamas, second only to WestJet's other Bahamian destination, Nassau," said Hugh Dunleavy, WestJet Executive Vice-President of Strategy and Planning. "Just a little bit less populated than its neighbour, Freeport has quiet beaches just waiting for WestJet guests to claim for themselves. Sounds like the perfect way to escape a Canadian winter!"
Left to right: Minister of Works and Transport the Hon Neko Grant; Minister of Tourism and Aviation the Hon Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace; WestJet Vice President Richard Bartrem; and Minister of State for Finance and Public Service the Hon Zhivargo Laing. Photo: Derek Carroll
WestJet will fly between Toronto and Freeport twice per week from now until April 30, 2010.
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