Latin America’s Coolest Airline Wingo Launches Medellín–Montego Bay Flights to Boost Jamaica Tourism

Latin America’s coolest airline, Wingo, is expanding its network across the Caribbean. Its new Medellín–Montego Bay route highlights Jamaica’s growing appeal while connecting a new generation of adventurous Colombian travelers to the island. This is another success story for Jamaica in diversifying its tourism source markets.

Kingston – Jamaica’s relentless push to diversify its tourism markets beyond its traditional North American base has reached another milestone with the announcement of a new direct air service linking Medellín, Colombia, with Montego Bay.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, confirmed that the route—operated by Wingo Airlines—will commence on June 23, 2026, marking a significant expansion of Jamaica’s air connectivity in Latin America.

“Today marks a significant step in enhancing Jamaica’s tourism strategy,” Bartlett said. “This new route not only responds to the growing interest from Colombian travelers but also reinforces our commitment to increasing connectivity and accessibility to Jamaica for visitors from Latin America.”

Strengthening Latin America Connections

The Medellín–Montego Bay service will operate three times weekly—Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays—offering nearly 32,000 seats annually. Introductory fares begin at USD $159 one-way, making Jamaica increasingly accessible to Colombian travelers.

The route builds on the momentum of the recently launched Bogotá–Montego Bay service, which has already demonstrated strong demand and is scheduled to increase frequency in June.

“This is the fruit of our collective labor to expand routes in Latin America, which will diversify and expand our markets,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism. “It is indeed a victory for Jamaica and its longstanding partners who have worked to achieve this great outcome.”

Wingo is Latin America’s coolest airline.

“When you fly with Wingo, you don’t waste a minute of your trip, and you get to be on time for your destination. Our Wingo team is always working to offer you a nice experience, keep our fares low, and make you happy.” This is the promise from Wingo to its passengers

Wingo Airlines isa Colombia-based low-cost carrier and a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, launched in 2016 as part of a strategic shift to expand affordable air travel across Latin America and the Caribbean. Operating primarily from Bogotá, the airline focuses on short- and medium-haul routes using a single-class configuration designed to keep fares low while connecting key regional destinations.

Positioned as one of the region’s leading budget airlines, Wingo offers direct flights across multiple countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing competitive pricing and simplified service to stimulate travel demand. Its growing footprint in the Caribbean, including Jamaica, reflects a broader trend of low-cost carriers opening new tourism corridors between emerging markets.

A Long-Term Strategy of Market Diversification for Jamaica

For more than a decade, Jamaica has been strategically working to reduce its dependence on the United States and Canada, which still account for the majority of stopover arrivals. Under Bartlett’s leadership, the Ministry of Tourism and the Jamaica Tourist Board have aggressively pursued new gateways in Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East.

This diversification strategy became especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, when disruptions in key markets underscored the importance of broadening source markets.

Bartlett and White have since intensified outreach efforts, engaging airlines, tour operators, and travel advisors across emerging regions. Their approach has combined route development negotiations, targeted marketing campaigns, and strengthened diplomatic ties.

Jamaica’s Success Stories Beyond North America

Jamaica’s outreach has already yielded tangible results:

• Latin America Growth: Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and Peru have emerged as fast-growing markets, supported by increased airlift and Spanish-language marketing campaigns.
• European Expansion: Renewed routes from the UK and continental Europe have helped stabilize arrivals from long-haul markets.
• Middle East engagement: Jamaica has also explored partnerships in the Gulf region, including participation in major travel trade events and discussions with regional carriers.

The Bogotá route, launched earlier in 2026, is a clear example of how sustained engagement can translate into immediate demand.

Philip Rose, Deputy Director of Tourism, emphasizes the importance of connectivity:
“Strengthening air connectivity is essential to unlocking new markets and driving sustainable visitor growth.”

Airline Partnerships Driving Growth for Jamaica

Jamaica’s success in expanding airlift is closely tied to its ability to forge strong airline partnerships. Wingo’s expansion into Montego Bay reflects growing confidence among carriers in Jamaica’s tourism product and its appeal to new demographics.

Jorge Jiménez, Wingo’s Vice-President of Commercial and Network Planning, noted:
“We are excited to expand our presence in Jamaica with this new route. It presents new opportunities for Colombians traveling to Jamaica as well as for Jamaicans looking to explore Colombia.”

Endless Outreach Paying Off for Jamaica

Industry observers often point to Bartlett’s hands-on approach—frequent international missions, direct airline negotiations, and high-level tourism diplomacy—as a key driver of Jamaica’s success.

Together with Donovan White, he has maintained a near-constant presence at global aviation and tourism forums, ensuring Jamaica remains top-of-mind for route planners and investors.

This “endless outreach,” as industry stakeholders describe it, has positioned Jamaica as one of the Caribbean’s most proactive destinations in securing new airlift.

Looking Ahead

With the addition of Medellín and Bogotá, Jamaica is steadily building a robust network across Latin America. The government continues to target additional cities in Brazil, Argentina, and Central America, aiming to further balance its visitor mix.

As Jamaica increases seat capacity, expands route options, and invests in demand generation, the island is reinforcing its status as one of the Caribbean’s most dynamic and accessible destinations.

The Medellín route is more than just a new flight—it is another strategic step in Jamaica’s long-term vision to connect with the world beyond its traditional markets.