Barbados is suspending its weekly direct air service from Sao Paulo via Gol airlines.

Following a recent meeting between the airline’s top executives and Barbados’ tourism marketing team, led by Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy, the two parties have agreed to put a hold on the service effective from August 28, 2016.

“The airline has made some tough decisions in the past several months, including reducing frequencies to several of its top destinations” explained Eduardo Bernardes Neto, Chief Commercial Officer of the airline. “Despite the difficult Brazilian political-economic scenario, GOL still believes in Barbados’ market potential”, he added.

“The deferment is, therefore, a chance to refocus and regroup in order that we can continue to develop this very promising market,” he added. Minister Sealy emphasized that it was a mutual decision to postpone the service on August as bookings continue to be relatively strong in the lead up to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Barbados commenced its relationship with Gol in 2010 and has welcomed some 26,766 passengers to the island in that time. In 2015 the island welcomed 4,080 arrivals from Brazil, 1,493 less than the all-time peak of 5,573 from the previous year.