As of November 23, American Airlines will offer a direct flight on Saturdays between Dallas International Airport and Roatan.
In addition, the airline announced it will increase the Miami-Roatan frequency to three flight per week, also in November. These new flights will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Elheraldo.hn reports: "The flights between Roatan and Dallas-Fort Worth and Miami will be operated with a Boeing 737-800 with 16 seats in business class and 134 in the main cabin."
Due to an increase in demand, from June 12, American Airlines will start up a second frequency between Miami and Roatan.
This was confirmed by Verna Osorto, director of the airline in Honduras, who explained that the decision reflects the growing interest of American tourists in the Honduran destination, who since last November have had a direct flight between Miami and the island.
During this month a total of 37 cruise ships will dock in the ports of Roatan and Mahogany Bay, each which will be carrying between 2000 and 3000 tourists.
From the press release issued by the Honduran Tourism Institute of Honduras:
As occurred in January, February will be another busy month for tourism in Roatan, the Bay Islands with the arrival of more than 88,000 cruise ship passengers, on board 37 ships which will dock every day at the ports of Roatan and MahoganyBay, said authorities from the Secretariate and Honduran Tourism Institute.
The first American Airlines flight arrived on November 17 at Juan Manuel Gálvez Airport, officially marking the opening of the route.
The new service will operate weekly with a Boeing 737 aircraft with 16 seats in business class and 144 in the main cabin.
The newspaper Proceso de Honduras reported statements by Art Torno, American Airlines Vice President for Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America who said: "Today is an important day for American, as we expand our network in Central America with the addition to Roatan, our third destination in Honduras and our tenth in Central America.
From November 17th American Airlines will operate a weekly direct flight between Miami and Roatan.
A press release from the Ministry of Tourism of Honduras reads:
Tourism Minister Nelly Jerez today announced the opening of a nonstop Miami-Roatan air route, expressing satisfaction that this service with American Airlines places the island as a world class destination easily accessible from major airports in the U.S.
The company Roatan Electric Company (RECO) will invest $7 million to produce 3.9 MW on the resort island in Honduras.
The wind project, to be developed in the course of a year company RECO (Roatan Electric Company) represents a $7 million investment for a generating capacity of 3.9 megawatts said Richard Warren, vice president of Reco.
Citing as the reasons factors related to the regulatory, financial and political conditions, the firm Onyx has shut down its solar energy project in Honduras.
The company Onyx Service & Solutions, Inc. announced to its local partners and the Honduran authorities on Monday its decision to terminate its development of the 22 MW of solar power project on the island of Roatan.
The expansion work and repair of the airport will be completed in a period of five years.
Representatives from Aeropuertos de Honduras, the company responsible for the operation of Roatan airport, announced the investment project to city officials and businessmen.
Among the works to be carried out are the expansion by 3,000 square feet of the terminal building, the implementation of a new air conditioning system, repair of the runway and aircraft parking expansion.
Between January and July this year the number of cruise passengers arriving in Roatan increased by 12% compared to the same period in 2010.
Tourism in Roatan continues to grow significantly. In the first half of the year 200 ships arrived on the island, of which 78 entered through the port of Roatan and the remaining 122 via Mahogani Bay.
An article in Proceso.hn states: "projections by the Economic Analysis Unit of the Ministry of Tourism estimate that at the end of the year, there could be 900,000 cruise passengers, according to the scheduler from both ports.
Countries are making significant efforts to strengthen this sector, according to the Tourism Promotion Agency of Central America.
Honduras recently reported the arrival of 470,000 cruise passengers in the first six months of 2011, over 188 cruise ships, 115 of which landed in Mohogany Bay, which recently opened a new dock. According to the country’s authorities, the activity in the country earned it $40 million, an increase of 17% compared with 2010.
The Roatán cruise terminal and marina has announced investment in the second stage of its Town Center project.
The project comprises the expansion of the existing facilities and the construction of a shopping and entertainment center.
Álvaro Durón, manager of the company owning the marina and cruise terminal on the the largest of Honduras' Bay Islands, told Elheraldo.hn that, "the expansion of the pier will qualify the port as one of the few in the Caribbean and the only one in Central America capable of receiving the world's largest cruise liners carrying up to 6,000 passengers".
The Secretary for Tourism will officially unveil the infrastructure works that cost a total of $16 million.
The projects were aimed at conserving and improving the environment and included the construction of a new landfill site, drinking water systems, sanitation and a sewage treatment plant.
In addition, all communities benefited from resurfaced roads and recycling facilities as well as strengthened taxation and finance systems.
Cooreia, the company who built a cruise ship pier in the Island of Roatan, is analyzing the construction of a touristic pier in Omoa.
For this they held meetings with officials from the National Port Company (ENP).
“Mohand Merzkany, financial coordinator at the ENP, confirmed there are several cruise ship companies interested in pier in Omoa, due its advantageous natural conditions”, reported Tiempo.hn.
Tourism businessmen expect demand to surpass their 2.500 room supply for the upcoming holiday season.
The island of Roatán currently has 2.500 available rooms, and local businessmen expect 20.000 visitors for these Eastern Holidays.
"Romeo Silvestre, a local entrepreneur, explained they expect a 75% deficit in terms of hotel rooms, as they will receive three times as many visitors as any other week".
CM Airways and Central American Airlines presented new touristic promotions and added airplanes to their fleets.
Héctor Motiño, CEO of Central American Airways, explained they purchased 4 new airplanes, which they used to open new routes: San Pedro Sula – La Ceiba, La Ceiba – Roatán and Roatán – Tegucigalpa.
Meanwhile, CM announced it will operate a new route to Puerto Lempira, in the “Gracias a Dios” department.