Air Jamaica to cut routs and staff next month

[Sickko]

so how come the Minister said they had full loads coming into the island?

[Assasin]

Did he say Air Jamaica?

[Sickko]

How many other national airlines we have here in Jamaica?

[Exile]

Yu start believe Politician now?

[Assasin]

what the government need to do is leggo Air One and make them take the Miami route.

Jet Blue just listed to fly to Ja now from NY. How Air J a loose so much when others want to take a run so bad?

[MdmeX]

Jet Blue just listed to fly to Ja now from NY

.

Sass - where did you see/hear this & when does service start? I just checked JetBlue's website and found no listing to Kingston or MoBay?

[Sickko]

It was on the news here yesterday

[MdmeX]

Well - maybe they've not updated their site

• Orlando, FL (MCO) and Bogotá, Colombia (BOG) starts January 29, 2009.4
• Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) and Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) starts Feb. 1, 2009.4
• Orlando, FL (MCO) and Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) starts Feb. 1, 2009.4
• Boston, MA (BOS) and St. Maarten (SXM) starts Feb. 14, 2009.4
• Orlando, FL (MCO) and San José, Costa Rica (SJO) starts March 26, 2009.4
• Boston, MA (BOS) and San Francisco, CA (SFO) starts May 1, 2009.

Learn about our airline partners.

[Sickko]

They will fly between JFK and MBJ starting next month according to the news

[Karl]

Why this Air J problem?

Why this Air J problem?


Dear Editor,
Re the whole Air Jamaica issue, it's all about politics. All the routes that the board of Air Jamaica has cut have been taken up by other airlines and are profitable. AA has six flights a day to Miami. How come?

I am so sorry to see that whoever is responsible for doing this is being allowed to do it. As far as I am concerned we have no civic pride, we do not love our country as we should. That is what we have to learn from the Americans - how to love your country and be loyal to it. There is nothing I can say or do to help. The Board has made its decision and now the airline will suffer.

Complete Story

[HL]

Had lunch with an Air Jamaica pilot last saturday. He told me about the impending cuts (and much more).

He is in the process of buying (more) land for farmimg. He is in the process of setting up contingencies.......

[Assasin]

Air Jamaica defends Miami route closure

Posted: 2009-01-30 17:37:57
The management of the national airline has sought to defend its decision to close its Miami route.

The route is one of several in North America to be closed by the airline.

Air JamaicaPresident and Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Nobles, said a continued low load factor, unsustainable losses and strong competition on the route were the major issues influencing the airline’s decision.

While expressing regret that some customers might be impacted negatively by the closure, Mr Nobles added that the decision was supported by the findings of a due diligence review of Air Jamaica’s operations.

The due diligence was conducted airline
consultancy, GRA Incorporated which also recommended an action plan aimed at taking advantage of both short-term and long-term opportunities in the marketplace.

With service from the Miami gateway set to end on February 25, 2009, Mr Nobles emphasised that closure of the loss-making route will enable the airline’s management to focus on its operations at the Fort Lauderdale base, which is more cost efficient, and offers the prospect for stronger growth.

Additionally he said the majority of Florida’s Jamaicans in the Diaspora live in and around the Fort Lauderdale area, as evidenced by the passenger growth experienced in recent years on this route.

[Mosiah]

With the highest salary in the business, he has nothing to worry about. Maybe he'll have time to reflect and wonder if he did not contribute to the airline's demise.

[HL]

I asked him how much imput does pilots have in management decision making.

His reply was that they do...but the final say was left to the (inefficient) government.

[MdmeX]

JetBlue

JetBlue starting NY/MoBay service May

BY MARK CUMMINGS Observer senior reporter cummingsm@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, January 30, 2009

MONTEGO BAY, St James - JetBlue Airways is to commence service between New York's JFK and Sangster International Airport in this resort city in May, as part of the American-based company's plan to expand its international operations.

According to chief commercial officer of MBJ Airports Ltd, Elizabeth Scotton, the carrier will fly one daily round trip between the two cities as of May 21.

"The flight will arrive at approximately 11:00 am in Montego Bay and depart at about 12 noon, using an A320 aeroplane which has a capacity of 150 seats," Scotton said.

According to JetBlue, the service will allow for easy connections from numerous Northeastern cities, including Boston, Buffalo, Rochester and Washington.

It added that the service will allow travellers all of the amenities for which the airline has become known. These include seatback television programming, comfortable leather seats, unlimited free snacks and excellent customer service.

The announcement of the planned service comes days after Air Jamaica, the national carrier, said it will cut a number of routes and scale down flights to some of its destinations starting next month.

Yesterday, Scotton said MBJ Airports Ltd was very elated at the announcement, particularly at a time when the world is facing several financial challenges.

"We are pleased to see the addition of the new airline. to see a new airline take the decision to start service into Montego Bay given the current economic climate," she told Caribbean Business Report.

Tickets for the new service are expected to go on sale next Wednesday.
Montego Bay will become one of 11 international cities on JetBlue's route map. Other new cities being added over the next few months by the value airline include Los Angeles, USA; Bogota, Colombia; and San Jose, Costa Rica.

JetBlue currently serves 52 cities with 600 daily flights.