American Airlines has announced service to Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Ian Fleming International Airport is largely a general aviation destination, but American will offer regional jet service twice weekly.
The Ocho Rios airport is 34 miles from Kingston airport and 62 miles from Montego Bay. That makes it convenient for guests of Beaches Ocho Rios, Couples Tower Isle and Sans Souci, and Rooms Resort.
Service will begin November 5 as American Airlines flight 4007 (‘for 007’) operating Wednesdays and Fridays with an Embraer E-175 on wholly-owned regional carrier Envoy Air.
- Miami – Ocho Rios, 12:35 p.m. – 1:32 p.m. American Airlines 4007
Ocho Rios – Miami, 2:31 p.m. – 5:27 p.m., American Airlines 4007
There aren’t many international flights operating with less than a one hour turn!
The airport was named for the creator of James Bond – Ian Fleming – and the first Bond film Dr. No was filmed in part in Ocho Rios. The exterior of the Blue Mountain cottage, home of Bond villain Miss Taro, was the Sans Souci hotel. (The film’s crew stayed at this hotel.) In addition Ocho Rios featured in Live and Let Die as well.
Nearby James Bond Beach has featured concerts with Rihanna, Lauryn Hill and Ziggy Marley, and offers the Moonraker bar. And not much farther afield is Dunn’s River Falls where Sean Connery met Ursula Andress (‘Honey Ryder’).
Here’s the American Airlines Jamaica route network, including Austin – Montego Bay which begins June 4:
Though Ocho Rios airport is named for Ian Fleming, it seems as though Kingston, Jamaica has at least as much claim on Bond. Dr. No opens in Kingston on Harbour Street. John Strangway is gunned down after a game of bridge at the ‘Queens Club’ which is the Liguanea Club on Knutsford Boulevard. Strangway’s home, where his secretary is killed, is on Kinsale Street which is a bit north of Kingston.
Still, AA4007 joins flight 1492 to Columbus as one of the airline’s better flight numbers, and it will become bookable with the weekend schedule load. Until then, OCJ airport isn’t even an option on the American Airlines website.
All that and no mention of the Golden Eye resort in that area to make the trip complete.
Golden Eye is solid or head east and use Hyatt points to stay at The Trident in Port Antonio. Or do a split stay at The Trident and the boutique Geejam, which has its own recording studio where some of the biggest music stars have recorded.
This sounds great, I am planning to check this out soon!
Good to know
Welcome this service
Why the constant reference to the airport in Boscobel as the St Ann area instead of St Mary.
It’s time St Mary be given it’s recognition.
A few decades ago back when I worked as a travel agent in the port of Miami, a lot of seamen flew home when they were done with their stint on whichever cruise line employed them. I’m sure that there’s some tourist business Ochi but Montego Bay is really unparalleled in location for tourists. What surprises me a bit is that the Ocho Rios airport is named after Ian Fleming. The recent visit by the young royals showed that ties to Brittain are not always viewed positively.
Why are you people keep saying Ocho Rios? The airport is located in Boscobel St Mary, Ocho Rios is in St Ann
No one knows where Boscobqel is.
I like the idea of Jamaica adding new flight that are international to small towns. This can leads to major development later.
I totally agree. The airport is in St Mary not St Ann.
St. Mary need to be recognized and it is about time some tourist dollars be spent in St Mary. It is part of the Islaand the last time I checked.
THE AIRPORT IS IN ST MARY, NOT ST ANN.