Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine January 2018 | Page 660

U.S. Virgin Islands
Post-Hurricanes Update
The U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas) was hit by two back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes
in September. The destination continues to forge ahead with its recovery and restoration efforts. With the
support of federal partners as well as mainland power authorities, daily progress is being made to fully
restore the islands’ power infrastructure. The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority maintained and
has achieved its goal of 90 percent power restoration (by Christmas). The downtown areas on all three
islands have been reenergized; businesses, beaches and attractions are reopening every day; and visitors
are traveling to the USVI by cruise ships and by air.
The Government of the Virgin Islands and its private sector partners work daily on recovery efforts,
including the continued return of cruise ships, the reopening of numerous attractions, and the ongoing
re-opening of accommodations.
AIRLIFT . . .
Airports and seaports have reopened, and flight
service has resumed to both St. Thomas and St.
Croix. Both Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways
are serving the Territory with daily nonstop
flights. Delta is operating daily service between
Atlanta and St. Thomas through April, and is
scheduled to operate daily service between
Atlanta and St. Croix through January 8, 2018.
Afterward, Delta will operate three to four days
per week through the end of March 2018. JetBlue
is operating daily service from San Juan to St.
Croix and St. Thomas. Both airlines are giving
consideration to upgauging their services based
on demand. American Airlines is operating
twice daily service from Miami to both St. Thomas
and St. Croix. The airline will also operate weekly
Saturday flights between Charlotte and St. Croix
from December 16, 2017 through August next
year. Spirit’s twice weekly service between Fort
Lauderdale and St. Thomas on Wednesdays and
Saturdays will increase to four flights per week
(Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays),
effective February 16, 2018.