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Miami becomes first U.S. city with non-stop flights to the largest of the Canary Islands
Miami-Dade County, FL – On Saturday, June 20, Miami-Dade County officials welcomed the inaugural flight by Air Europa from Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, to Miami International Airport - the beginning of the only non-stop air service from Tenerife to a U.S. city.
Air Europa will operate service from Tenerife to Miami once a week on Saturdays, with connections to popular trade destinations in Africa such as Dakar, Marrakech and Tunez and to 14 other destinations in Spain. The new service marks MIA’s ninth European non-stop passenger destination and second in Spain. Non-stop flights are also available through other carriers from MIA to Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome and Zurich.
Tenerife has shared a Sister Cities relationship with Miami-Dade County since 1993 and the Miami-Tenerife route was generated from a trade mission trip led by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, Honorary Chairperson of the Sister Cities Committee to Tenerife, in January 2008.
“As a result of long and difficult negotiations over the last 19 months, the inaugural flights between Miami-Dade County and Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, have resulted in the expansion of economic development opportunities for commerce and the strengthening of cultural diversity in our community,” said Commissioner Sosa. “It is natural for Miami-Dade County, which serves as the capital of the Americas, and the Canary Islands that serve as the entryway and launching pad from the European Union to Africa, to reach this strategic alliance. Additionally, we are working with Tenerife Town Council President Ricardo Melchor Navarro on expanding cargo trade routes and additional air travel services to the African continent that could result in more jobs and economic development during these difficult financial times.”
“Today is a major milestone in the history of international trade and tourism for MIA and Miami-Dade County,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Department Director José Abreu. “The Miami-Tenerife route connects the County to one of the top tourist destinations in the world and may provide opportunities for further expansion into Spain and Africa. We look forward to serving Air Europa and its passengers for many years to come.”
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