MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – The cash strapped Air Jamaica and the Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines (CAL) have formalised an agreement that will result in the Jamaica carrier resuming flights to London’s Heathrow airport and restoring other international routes which it previously operated.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett addressing a news conference ahead of the 2011 Caribbean Marketplace here, told reporters that under the agreement CAL will focus on the commercial diaspora Bartlett said that the two carriers had finalised their “marital agreement” and would operate two brands under the CAL leadership.
He said that as part of the new arrangement Air Jamaica brand will be dedicated to tourism and leisure travel, with a new plan to operate three flights a week to Heathrow as of July this year.
“It is expected that Air Jamaica will go back into Baltimore, Orlando, and Miami and will operate two services a day to Toronto.”
He said that Caribbean Airlines utilizing its relationship with Star Airlines will seek to expand services to South America.
“Under the arrangement the airline will now benefit by feeding through Latin America, with destinations such as Curacao, Aruba and Venezuela enjoying connections through Caribbean Airlines via Port of Spain into Montego Bay and Kingston,” he said.
The Tourism Minister said that much emphasis will be placed on the emerging markets, and two key areas under focus will be South America via Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Equador and Russia from the Eastern European end.
He said that while the longer haul operations to China and Russia would take place during the latter half of 2011, ever effort would be made to ensure that the airline acquired a presence in that region.
“However the critical areas of emphasis for us with the South American market and the Eastern European end with Russia being the centerpiece of that thrust.”
Last year the two regional governments agreed to a deal that allowed the Jamaica government to own 16 per cent of CAL as part of the conditions for the CAL taking over the lucrative routes of Air Jamaica.
The deal also allows for Trinidad and Tobago agreeing to a US$300 million transition plan for CAL to acquire and operate six Air Jamaica aircraft and eight of its routes. (CMC)
