TORONTO — Sunwing’s first-ever Bonaire flights have taken wing, with weekly direct service scheduled every Sunday until April 15, 2018.

The new service, which took off Dec. 18 from Toronto Pearson International Airport, gives Canadian travellers the only direct flights to the Caribbean island.

For the 10 a.m. departure out of Pearson, passengers had fun with a commemorative photo booth, giving everyone on the plane a special memento along with other souvenirs before departure. Upon arrival in Bonaire, the Sunwing plane received a water cannon salute before both the passengers and crew disembarked to a warm welcome.

The Sunwing cabin crew and pilot Captain Chris Lewis celebrated the inaugural flight from Toronto with Bonaire Tourism Board by cutting into a welcome cake. Photo credit: First Officer James Parsons

Captain Chris Lewis and his crew were greeted by Commissioner of Economic Development & Tourism Hubert Martis, Director of Tourism, Maurice Adriaens and Marketing Manager for Bonaire Tourism, Malinda Hassell, together with representatives from the island’s hotels and resorts.

Captain Lewis was invited to cut a specially-made Sunwing cake in honour of the new flight service. He and the entire crew were then recognized as ambassadors of Bonaire and each received a special commemorative medal.

Billed as an ideal destination for active travellers like divers or wind/kite surfers, Bonaire is recognized for its commitment to sustainable tourism practices and coral preservation, says Sunwing. Consistently rated as one of the top diving destinations in the world, it boasts 86 dive sites which are home to 57 different corals and some 350 marine species. Adventures on land are equally varied ranging from hiking up the island’s tallest peak, Brandaris, to relaxing in the colourful capital of Kralendijk.

Sunwing’s value-added accommodation packages at the island’s leading resorts include stays at Divi Flamingo Resort and Casino, Plaza Beach Resort, Buddy Dive Resort and the newly-built Delfins Beach Resort.