MONTEGO BAY — Frontier Airlines has paid tribute to Sandals Resorts International (SRI) founder, the late Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, by naming a new aircraft in his honour.

Scheduled for delivery in 2023, the new plane will feature a tail that incorporates Jamaica’s national bird, the red-billed streamertail, locally known as the doctor bird. Part of Frontier’s signature plane tails program, the new design is named ‘Stewart the Red-Billed Streamertail’ after the late founder, and was unveiled by Frontier Airlines President and CEO Barry Biffle at a ceremonial event at Sandals Montego Bay.

“We present this new design in recognition of the work that Mr. Stewart, and indeed the entire Stewart family, has done for tourism in Jamaica,” said Biffle.

Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of SRI and son of the late Stewart, added: “Sharing Jamaica with the world was my father’s joy and our hearts are filled with immense pride with the introduction of ‘Stewart the Red-Billed Streamertail’ to the Frontier fleet. I know that my dad would be so proud to have our Jamaican doctor bird flying once again.

Frontier Plane Tail Ceremony Nov 10, 2022

“Thank you, Frontier. We are honoured that you have chosen to pay tribute to him in this extraordinary way. His legendary spirit will now continue to soar over his beloved Jamaica.”

A fierce champion of tourism to Jamaica since entering the industry in 1981, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart helped resurrect Jamaica’s travel industry at the time, earning him the respect of his peers and countrymen. He was elected President of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica in 1989 and was inducted in its ‘Hall of Fame’ in 1995. He served as a Director of the Jamaica Tourist Board for a decade and as President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association in the mid-80s, and in 1994 he led a group of investors to take leadership of Air Jamaica, the Caribbean’s largest regionally based carrier.

Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart passed away on Jan. 4, 2021 at the age of 79.