Tourism Commissioner Rafael Jackson will meet early next week with representatives of US Air and USA Vacations in an attempt to shore up air service to St. Croix.
Jackson said the meeting was at the request of the airline. He was hoping to meet with American Airlines officials too, but the head of the Caribbean region won't be available next week.
The intent is to find ways to increase traffic into the Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia gateways that serve St. Croix.
"If we can create the demand, we can keep them (the airlines) from thinking of cutting back" on flights to St. Croix, Jackson said.
The V.I. needs to concentrate promotion efforts on Virginia, the Carolinas and areas in Pennsylvania, he said. He also wants to increase interest in flights leaving Miami and will consider advertising in Tampa and other Florida cities.
He stressed that the airlines have not said they will decrease flights into St. Croix, but said he wants to take a proactive approach to the issue.
