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(From the Barbados Nation, 12 March, 2007)
(Trinidad) Caribbean Airlines adds 1 000 more flights

At least one airline has increased its flights for Cricket World Cup and the April 27-29 Plymouth Jazz Festival in Tobago. Caribbean Airlines, the Trinidad-based carrier formed this year to replace BWIA, has added 100 extra flights – totalling over 2 500 seats – to its schedule in anticipation of the huge increase in travellers within the region between now and the end of next month.

The airline stated last Friday it had increased the frequency of service to several destinations including Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia and Jamaica's Kingston and Montego Bay airports. Its website, www.caribbean-airlines.com, was already showing bookings for some of those flights.

"It is also operating special services to St Kitts, Bermuda and Grenada," Caribbean Airlines director
of corporate affairs Dionne Ligoure said, noting the airline's Boeing 737-800 aircraft had a seating capacity of 154.

She also said the increase in flights would ease mass movement through the islands. "Additional services to St Kitts, Grenada and Bermuda will facilitate the movement of large groups. We have also put on flights for the weekend of the Tobago Jazz Festival," she said.

That festival, featuring Sir Elton John, Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, Al Green, Earth Wind & Fire, Sean Paul and Beres Hammond, has been responsible for a hike in airline bookings since it was first advertised in January, sources said.

Caribbean Airlines operates within the region and to North and South America and Britain.

(From the Trinidad & Tobago NewsDay, 15 March, 2007)
(Trinidad) Caribbean Airlines eyes London route.

Caribbean Airlines will launch its new and enhanced flight service between Port-of-Spain and London in two weeks. The new carrier, which replaced BWIA on January 1, featured prominently at an industrial trade show in London this month.

In a statement, Caribbean Airlines CEO Peter Davies said the airline will begin its new flight service between Port-of-Spain to London on March 25. That service forms part of a codeshare agreement signed between the local airline and British Airways earlier this year.

Under the agreement, British Airways will operate a direct flight service between Port-of-Spain and London, three days a week. The other days will see Caribbean Airlines flying from Port-of-Spain to Bridgetown and providing seamless transition to British Airways for connecting flights to London from that destination.

Davies said Caribbean Airlines customers will reap many benefits from the codeshare agreement as the latter airline will provide them with the added comfort of travelling on its Boeing 777 aircraft with wider seats, more leg room and a range of entertainment facilities.

Davies said Caribbean Airlines’ associate sponsoring of the United Caribbean industrial trade show at the Mermaid Conference and Events Centre in Blackfriars, London on March 12 was vital to the airline’s development.

He said despite being based in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean, the airline’s outlook was international. “We are keen to maintain vital connections to world centres, which reflect the increasing importance of the Caribbean as a tourism and trade destination,” he stated.

Caribbean Airlines has also adopted Boeing’s web-based maintenance solution, Maintenance Performance Toolbox, to help improve the maintenance of its fleet of Next Generation 737-800 aircraft. Caribbean Airlines vice-president (maintenance and engineering) Ian Brunton said Boeing has the right tools to help the company build the “kind of lean, competitive airline demanded by both the flying public and our board of directors.”

Brunton said Caribbean Airlines was pleased to bring this level of service to its customers. He added that it demonstrates the airline’s commitment to reducing its operating costs and improving its performance.

Boeing vice-president (sales and marketing) Dan da Silva said the company was happy that Caribbean Airlines has adopted its Maintenance Performance Toolbox product.

(From The Montserrat Reporter, 16 March, 2007)
(Montserrat, Letter) Contract Air Montserrat for scheduled Antigua-Montserrat air service.

Dear Editor,

We read, with interest, the news that Montserrat may soon be getting a ferry service. That's good news, but ONLY if the GOM will contract Air Montserrat to do the scheduled air service between Antigua and Montserrat, even on a one-year trial basis.

When the Winair contract expires in July 07, the GOM should not be entertaining thoughts of Liat/Cbean Star competing with Air Montserrat on their own home turf, considering that the ferry will/may also be operating. There is simply not enough passengers to keep the three services afloat.

During the slow periods, 3 or 4 flights a day would probably suffice and, during busy periods (Christmas, St Patrick's, etc.), Air Montserrat should have the option to increase the daily flights to 6, OR operate as a shuttle service as Liat used to do back in the 1970s. They should also have the option, if necessary, to charter Carib Aviation Twin Otters to fill the slack, especially during December.

I am appealing to all of you - let's help Air Montserrat to survive!

Thank you,

"Lady Evryting Done"

(From CaribbeanNetNews, 20 March, 2007)
(Grenada) Customer service training for Grenada airport personnel.

The Government of Grenada and Peter de Savary's Savvy Grenada are collaborating on a major service quality initiative. Over the next two weeks starting Monday March 19, 2007, nearly 150 employees providing service at the Point Salines International Airport will undergo service quality training.

Some of the Management Team with Mr Leacock. First Row: Left to Right: Courtenay Leacock is the third person.

The de Savary group has brought Courtenay Leacock, who is known as one of the best customer service trainers to come to Grenada. Leacock, who is a former Director of Human Resources with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, has 34 years of experience in Human Resources Management.

Tourism Minister Brenda Hood expressed her commitment to this training programme. She said,"This programme of training is aimed at providing a clearly defined customer service module for our airport staff. It is vitally important that we perform at our best as we prepare to host the world for the Cricket World Cup. The World Cup will place extra demands and pressure on our airport staff so they have to be prepared to meet this. Government continues to express gratitude to Mr de Savary for his strong commitment to Grenada."

Speaking on behalf of Savvy Grenada, Resident Director Richard Hallam outlined the importance of having highly trained support staff. "Our investments and the service industry in Grenada will be more successful if the support services which we rely on are efficient and customer focused."

De Savary commented, "As usual we are pleased to assist the Government and people of Grenada improve levels of service. Mr Leacock has worked with us before at the Abaco Club in the Bahamas and we are confident that he will make a huge difference here."

Leacock will meet and train the staff at Point Salines International Airport. This includes Aviation Services of Grenada; Customs; Immigration; Board of Tourism; Airport Authority including departure tax and parking cashiers; Information Desk Agents and Security.

(From cheapflights.co.uk, 22 March, 2007)
(Jamaica) Airtours to start East Midlands to Jamaica route.

A new route is due to commence in July from East Midlands Airport to Jamaica. With tickets beginning at £663, the Airtours flights will fly direct from the Caribbean island's Montego Bay each Wednesday from July 18. The service will use a Boeing 763 aircraft, with a configuration of 30 first class seats and 267 economy seats.

East Midlands Airport is located near the cities of Nottingham, Derby and Leicester and other long-haul destinations already on offer include: Cuba, Orlando, Goa and Cancun. However, the Airtours connection will be the only flight to Jamaica available from the region. Tickets are available through www.airtours.co.uk, where travellers can also plan bespoke itineraries such as weddings or honeymoons.

Airtours’ Steve Barrass, noted that the island is extremely popular with British holidaymakers, drawn by "sugar-white shores" and some of the most awe-inspiring natural attractions in the Caribbean.

(From the Jamaica Gleaner, 24 March, 2007)
(Jamaica) 'Dragon Bay shutdown led to airstrip closure'.
Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer

Chairman of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), Dennis Morrison, says the closure of the Dragon Bay Hotel in Portland contributed to the Government's decision not to rehabilitate the Ken Jones Aerodrome located in the parish.

"We need to understand that the closure of the Dragon Bay Hotel in the parish contributed significantly to the lack of activity at the airstrip," he explained. "We did not close operations until this hotel, which brought most of the business to the airstrip, closed its doors."

Mr. Morrison, who is also chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), was speaking during an interview with The Gleaner at the official opening of the new customs and arrival hall at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on Thursday.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller was the keynote speaker at the ceremony for the new wing, which is part of MBJ Airport Limited's US$40 million expansion exercise.

Pointing out that the critical infrastructure for that part of the island was the road network, Mr. Morrison stated that he expects that the completion of Highway 2000 from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio will boost tourism activities there.

The Sandals group, headed by Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, owns the Dragon Bay property and interest has been expressed to refurbish and reopen for business, as soon as the road network is rehabilitated. Hundreds of workers have been affected by its closure. The AAJ chairman told The Gleaner that the plans for the development of the Vernamfield airstrip in South Clarendon are well advanced.

(From the BroadStreetNews, 27 March, 2007)
(Antigua) Caribbean Airlines continues to downsize while the LIAT-Caribbean Star merge is nearly complete.

Caribbean Airlines plans to celebrate its continued downsizing at Piarco International Airport today as it welcomes British Airways to T&T. Under a codeshare agreement BA will take over the airline’s route from Piarco to London’s Gatwick airport.

Caribbean Airlines is promising its customers the added comfort of wider seats, more leg room and a range of entertainment facilities not on its own planes, but on the Boeing 777 jet which BA will operate on the route.

The codeshare service between Port-of Spain and London Gatwick also includes Barbados. The flight with stop here on its way to Port-of-Spain on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, while on the other days it will end in Barbados, and passengers going on to Trinidad will have to connect to a Caribbean Airlines’ Boeing 737.

In addition to codesharing with BA, Caribbean Airlines will on May 1 cease operating flights to London Heathrow and has sold its seven landing slots to BA for US$10 million. It has also ceased to operate flights to New York out of Barbados, with those routes recently being assigned by Barbados to Air Jamaica.

Meanwhile, the Liat, Caribbean Star merger is said to be on track along the same lines as previously announced with the parties to the merger of hope to sign on the dotted within a few days, according to a joint release from both airlines.

The governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines, which are primary shareholders of LIAT are said to be reviewing an agreement for Liat to purchase Caribbean Star, is expected to be completed by the end of April 2007.

In order to allow the new entity to start debt free, in a separate transaction from the purchase agreement, the Stanford Financial Group will lend US$55 million to the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The loan is to allow the governments to provide funds to liquidate LIAT's financial liabilities, as well as to provide working capital. The joint release noted that US$11 million out of the total sum has already been advanced.

The loan is on commercial terms and has been guaranteed by the three governments. It is expected to be repaid to the Stanford Financial Group from the proceeds of an Initial Public Offering of LIAT stock.

(From CBC Barbados, 28 March, 2007)
(Barbados) More seats from Barbados to London.

British Airways has officially re-launched its service out of London between Barbados and Trinidad, offering a 50 percent increase in carrying capacity. District Manager for Barbados and St. Lucia, Nigel Blackett, says the airline will operate three flights a week Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. BA has also signed a code share arrangement with Caribbean Airlines, which should minimise disruption when Caribbean Airlines reduces its services.Keep in mind, BWIA is still in the process of transitioning to Caribbean Airlines, and LIAT and Caribbean Star are in the process of consolidating into LIAT, Star of the Caribbean. Let's stay focused on working towards ensuring, that individually, both of these carriers are safe, reliable, friendly to their customers, and self sustaining. An alliance between the two would help support that goal."

(From the Antigua Sun, 30 March, 2007)
(Antigua) LIAT, C-Star focus on busy period before merger.
by Patricia Campbell

Tomorrow was identified as the deadline for the completion of the merger between regional airlines LIAT and Caribbean Star, but LIAT’s CEO Mark Darby now says that a more practical deadline would be the end of April.

In a recent interview with the Antigua Sun, Darby made it clear that the end of March is merely a deadline to get the legal aspects of his airline’s purchase of Caribbean Star complete. It is not yet clear if this aspect of the merger of the carriers will be wrapped up before the month ends, but Darby indicated that, having implemented a commercial alliance in February and successfully merged the operations of the airlines, there is no great rush to resolve other organisational issues this month.

One important consideration, he said, is the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2007 and the busy travelling season which makes it difficult to address labour cuts and other aspects of organisational restructuring.

“There’s no way we’re going to be touching the organisation now until, probably the back end of April. We’ve got Easter; we’ve got things like Sailing Week. It’s just busy through April and it’s not a good time to be doing changes,” Darby told the SUN.

When the time to tackle these issues does come, however, Darby says that there are likely to be changes to LIAT’s management structure. Exactly what those changes will be are still being finalised, as are the exact numbers who will be let go from either airline.

“We know what the company looks like going forward. What we’re now trying to understand is how many staff from our side will be interested in voluntary severance and, on the Caribbean Star side, how many are going to be interested in transferring across. In that way, we’re reasonably confident we can do this without too many compulsory lay offs,” Darby said.

Asked whether the shift from initial talk of a merger to LIAT’s acquisition of Caribbean Star had created a “safe zone” for LIAT’s employees, Darby reasoned that “there is no such thing as a true merger short of shutting both companies down and starting a new one. The deal is almost inevitably going to be one business taking over the other because there isn’t such a thing as just combining two companies.

“LIAT will be acquiring Caribbean Star and then it will be integrating the operation and the people of Caribbean Star into LIAT. We’ve talked to all of the unions now, we just still need to work through some detail with some of them but for some of the groups we’ve already agreed how that’s going to work and we’re in the process of communicating that to staff.”

(From the Jamaica Gleaner, 31 March, 2007)
(Jamaica, Letter) Economics of Air Jamaica.

The Editor, Sir:

It is useful, in my view, to make a distinction between the accounts of Air Jamaica and the economics of Air Jamaica. The accounts undeniably paint a dismal picture. However, the economic picture will be quite different.

Consider the police, for example, they are providing benefits to the entire economy that would be difficult to evaluate in terms of dollars. It would be unusual for anyone to say the police force is run at a loss. In fact, the cost of the police force should be seen as transferred income, income transferred by the government from taxpayers to the police sector.

It should be noted that the police sector has competition from security companies, but no one argues forcibly that the government should get out of policing and leave it to the security companies. By this analogy, though imperfect, we will see that all the expenditure of Air Jamaica that is paid for by taxpayers and kept within the Jamaican economy is transferred earnings from taxpayers to the Air Jamaica.

Air Jamaica also provides benefits to the Jamaican economy that would be difficult to evaluate in dollars. This would indicate that the analyses of Air Jamaica should not be confined to mere accounting, but that the entire economics should be systema-tically addressed.

This calls for cost-benefit analyses, which encompasses the totality of Air Jamaica's costs (sociological, political, environmental) and all the benefits which are provided.

I am, etc.,

FRANK A. SUBARAN
New Market, Virginia

(From flightglobal.com, 31 March, 2007)
(Caribbean) Caribbean consolidation: the debate.

Skip Barnette, the chief executive of Caribbean Star, has responded in detail to comments made by Peter Davies, the chief executive of Caribbean Airlines, at last week's Network route planning conference about the need for a single Caribbean carrier to represent the region. The comments from Davies are to be found on the Airline Business blog, while Skip's are printed in full below.

Other news about Caribbean Star sees the carrier finalising its merger with Antigua-based Liat, whose own chief executive Mark Darby has been talking about life as a Caribbean airline CEO in the pages of Airline Business.

Skip Barnette's comments about calls for airline consolidation in the Caribbean are reprinted here in full:

"My response to this would be that it is a wonderful vision. However, from a practical perspective, it is not likely to happen in the near future. The resultant elimination of individual carrier brands, like LIAT, Star of the Caribbean, Air Jamaica and Cayman Airways would not likely be acceptable to the people and ultimately the governments of the islands they represent, irrespective of the financial performance.
In the case of LIAT, Star of theCaribbean, we have built a profitable, self-sustainable model for the future that protects the visibility of the LIAT name, and recognizes the contribution of Caribbean Star to the combined company going forward.

A more viable option, and one that we were pursuing with Caribbean Star, was to seek broad-based alliances among the regions carriers, using the combined resources of the existing carriers in a more complimentary role, and where possible, consolidating operations and taking advantage of the collective purchasing power of the aligned carriers in order to seek the best possible price for goods and services.

It is practical, in the short-term for LIAT, Star of the Caribbean to work closely with Caribbean Airlines to provide turbo-prop connecting services for passengers connecting with the islands. This would be a good first step towards a closer working relationship that both carriers could benefit from.

The prospect of Caribbean Airlines operating a fleet of turboprop aircraft is impractical and would likely be considered a direct effort to undermine the future of an airline with a 50-year history of operations within the Caribbean. In my view, this would not benefit the carriers, the shareholders, or the people of the Caribbean.

A mid-term vision, beyond the initial alliance step, could be a single, worldwide marketable brand, that allows the individual carriers to maintain someidentity which would protect visibility of the individual carriers history and brand, and afford the employees the opportunity to feel a part of a company, and not just a brand.

Clearly, a single airline of the Caribbean is, from a business perspective, a grand goal. However, given the history, pride and cultural attachment that employees and customers have to the current group of airlines, it is not, from my perspective, one that will be achieved.

Keep in mind, BWIA is still in the process of transitioning to Caribbean Airlines, and LIAT and Caribbean Star are in the process of consolidating into LIAT, Star of the Caribbean. Let's stay focused on working towards ensuring, that individually, both of these carriers are safe, reliable, friendly to their customers, and self sustaining. An alliance between the two would help support that goal."

(From the Barbados Nation, 31 March, 2007)
(Barbados) Ambulance facility ready at airport.

The ambulance facility at Grantley Adams International Airport is fully operational. This assurance came from Senator Rudy Grant, parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, who outlined the situation last Wednesday during debate of the Estimates in the Upper Chamber.

He said that unfortunately three people died at the airport last year and the ministry was saddened by those events. Grant said his ministry had evaluated how to man the facility and how it should respond. "Operating at the Grantley Adams International Airport is an ambulance facility. A fully equipped room as well... with all of the equipment that you will also find in the ambulance," he said. He added there was also a nurse to provide a first response to anyone who got sick.

(From the Trinidad Guardian, 01 April, 2007)
(Trinidad, Editorial) ‘Ugly Trinbagonian’ image in the making?

The self-image of Trinidad and Tobago as a big-hearted and genial regional godfather is not the picture necessarily preserved in other Caribbean minds. In going to the aid of Grenada, Jamaica and other countries badly hit by hurricanes, T&T was quick off the mark. Prime Minister Patrick Manning admirably led the relief effort that reflected genuine concern for the plight of regional brethren.

Of course, the recipients have been thankful, but gratitude didn’t lead to sustainable, flag-waving affection, or even trust, for these two energy-blessed, southernmost Caribbean islands. T&T’s relative economic robustness, vigour and assertiveness in trade and investment give it a high profile, but also tend to make this country a target of resentment.

Neither the performance of the West Indies cricket team nor the business and organisational out-turn of the World Cup is likely to make the Caribbean feel particularly good about itself.

Arrogant unconcern

In the post-mortem assessment of expectations and outcomes of the World Cup, this is unlikely to be a big moment for Caribbean fellow-feeling. The World Cup opening ceremony had been promoted as an opportunity to reach audiences of hundreds of millions around the world. Viewers were left in no doubt, however, about the predominant Jamaicanness of the production.

But much the same could have been said about the stamp put by the host country on last year’s Carifesta in T&T. It was unmistakably Trinidad and Tobago’s Carifesta, as nobody was allowed to forget. T&T’s notorious self-absorption is liable to be seen by others in the region as arrogant unconcern.

The transformation of BWIA into Caribbean Airlines has taken place without adequate notification of the countries certain to be affected, all of them dependent on a tourism sensitive to changes in air transport arrangements. T&T aspirations and projects have earlier come into sharp conflict with local sentiment in Guyana, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

Everywhere in Caricom, the success of T&T export manufacturers has called attention to itself. When Barbadian flying fishers were interdicted in Tobago waters, the Bridgetown government cited the favourable trade balance enjoyed by T&T as a background irritant to the boundary dispute. With Jamaica, a trade balance even more favourable has incensed at least some business leaders there.

Selfish T&T

“The productive sector in Jamaica has reached the end of its tether with respect to trade relations with Trinidad,” Doreen Frankson, president of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association wrote last month, adding: “We have never witnessed a more insular and selfish group. They seem to be only interested in plundering our country.”

Jamaican ire has been stirred by the Manning government’s announced failure to meet the terms of a memorandum of agreement for supplying LNG to fuel expansion of that island’s bauxite-alumina industry. As yet, there is no image of The Ugly Trinbagonian as a focus of pan-Caribbean distaste. But we may be getting there, if we are to believe the attitude purveyed last week by Jamaica Gleaner columnist Dawn Ritch, who bluntly accused us of being a “bombastic” bunch to whom wickedness comes naturally.

Ms Ritch’s column was itself not lacking in bombast of a kind readily recognised here as typical of attack calypso. What does come naturally to T&T is good-humoured, even if bemused, tolerance of such calypso expression as tends to lampoon or caricature, without undue concern for being faithful to the facts.

Bombastic Trinidadians, as the Gleaner column was titled, thus earns a place in the sun as an example of gut feeling in Kingston, combining misinformation, disinformation and myth-making, but which, nonetheless, has entertainment value.

(From the Caymanian Compass, 01 April, 2007)
(Cayman) Cayman Airways decision pleases Brac passengers.
By Cliodhna McGowan

Customers and staff of the Brac Reef Beach Resort are pleased that Cayman Airways has adapted its summer jet schedule to Cayman Brac from some late evening flights to all early evening flights.

The current summer schedule now includes late night arrivals from Houston into Grand Cayman and from Grand Cayman to Cayman Brac, but these are only effective up to 10 April, after which it reverts back to more or less what it had been last year, as afternoon/early evening flights.

The change is favourable for visitors to Cayman Brac, said Brac Reef Beach Resort Manager Trudy Viers. “Brac Reef is very happy to see the Cayman Airways jet schedule being changed back. This will be a benefit to our arriving guests along with running of our business. The past two weeks we have received the late night arrivals and our guests are extremely tired. It is midnight by the time they are settled in their rooms. With the 6:10pm arrival our guests can get settled, have dinner and relax at a reasonable time.”

In February the Sister Islands Tourism Association held a meeting, at which Sister Islands MLA Moses Kirkconnell attended, and a letter was sent to government requesting a change from late evening flights in the summer jet flight schedule by Cayman Airways. Ms Viers thanked Mr. Kirkconnell and those who assisted to make these changes for jet flights to Cayman Brac.

Scheduling Analyst with Cayman Airways Jean Ritch explained to the Caymanian Compass that the changes came about when the Houston flight into Grand Cayman was scheduled for an arrival of 8.20pm (Mon, Thurs, Sat), and, in order to accommodate these passengers, a later flight from Grand Cayman into Cayman Brac was scheduled for 9pm (Thursday, Saturday). An earlier evening flight was also scheduled for 6.10pm from Grand Cayman to Cayman Brac (Friday, Sunday). These flight times are now only effective until 10 April.

After this date, the Houston flight arrives into Grand Cayman at 4.55pm in the afternoon, and the jet flights to Cayman Brac depart at 5.55pm Thursday, Friday, Saturdays and Sundays.

Ms Ritch explained that they were trying to connect the late arriving Houston flight to the Brac, but it worked out being too late because the crew have to leave Grand Cayman at 9pm, overnight, and leave Cayman Brac again at 6.10 am in the morning.

The update to the schedule is better, she said, because it involves the Houston flight coming in at 4.55pm to Grand Cayman. An hour later the jet to the Brac leaves Grand Cayman, getting to the Brac at 6.25pm. This allows plenty of rest for the crew before flying out the next morning at 6.10am.

When the new VP Commercial John Wrightington came on board the schedule was looked at and it was decided an earlier jet flight to the Brac was better for connecting passengers coming to Grand Cayman from Miami, Ms Ritch said.

The reason for the changes being brought into the schedule, with the later flights, was because Cayman Airways was going from a four– to three–plane schedule and this was done to make all the flights flow together, she said. However, from 11 April the scheduling is back similar to what it was last summer.

For Easter, Cayman Express will have a new schedule with additional flights coming on board for both Sister Islands, which is seasonal, said Ms Ritch.

Since excess baggage charges were brought in about four months ago for Cayman Express, some who travel to Grand Cayman from Cayman Brac have complained about being charged for extra baggage when carrying supplies back.

But Ms Ritch asserts, “They are finally being charged when they weren’t charged before. For a long time CAL didn’t charge for excess baggage and we were losing a lot of revenue so that’s why we changed it.” When travelling to Cayman Brac or Little Cayman via the Twin Otter service baggage allowance is 55–pounds per person and only one 15–pound carry–on., Excess is charged US50–cents per pound.

At the Cayman Airways press conference on Wednesday to announce the new direct flights between Grand Cayman and New York, Minister for Tourism Charles Clifford said flights to the Sister Islands are as important as anything else, and service has been increased there. There had been issues with the jet service, he said, but they had been corrected and addressed.

Minister Clifford, when asked, said he had heard nothing about rumours that Spirit Airlines wanted to fly to Cayman Brac. He said the Sister Islands are not equipped to handle international flights so this would be an issue for any foreign carrier wanting to service the Brac. Therefore, he said, it is in the best interests of the Sister Islands for infrastructure there to be improved.

Commenting on the lack of direct jet service from Miami into Cayman Brac, Ms Viers said that there really had not been enough passengers travelling to the Brac to make it viable, even when Divi Tiara hotel was in operation. “Some days maybe 10 people would get off the flight,” she said.

Meanwhile, business at the Brac Reef Beach Resort is showing record breaking occupancy levels, said Ms Viers, although she did not wish to disclose any figures. The closure of Divi Tiara Resort has probably given Brac Reef a little extra business, she admitted, but even before Divi closed last September, business for 2006 was doing superbly for Brac Reef Resort, she said.

But despite business going well for the hotel, she said she really hopes more rooms come available on Cayman Brac and that something happens soon with Divi, which is still unsold. Everyone is affected by the loss of the 56 hotel rooms there, she said. It trickles right through the economy.

(From Caymanian Compass, 01 April, 2007)
(Cayman) CEO to pilot Cayman Airways forward.
By Cliodhna McGowan

Mr. Strasburger

CEO of Cayman Airways Patrick Strasburger believes the airline can soon fly to new heights through a turnaround project. “We’ve learned a lot of lessons. The airline is on the way forward,” he said in an interview with the Caymanian Compass Wednesday afternoon. “One of the reasons they don’t put rear–view mirrors on airplanes after you’ve learned your lessons is it doesn’t matter what’s behind you."

“We’re going forward. Ninety–nine per cent of the employees in this company are very good and willing and ready to do a great job and we’re going to all get on the airplane, the jet way is going to come up here very soon and the way forward is up and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

What Mr. Strasburger sees as a big start of the journey and of making some significant decisions is Wednesday morning’s announcement about the introduction of non–stop CAL flights between New York and Grand Cayman.

Mr. Strasburger said he does not let emotions interfere with decision making; a point, he said, that was misconstrued by another newspaper. He does not understand where the headline and the first two paragraphs in a news article in last week’s Cayman Net News came from.

“What I said the other day was that I make decisions based on fact–based reality and objectivism, and I will always keep my emotion from interfering with good decision making. How that got to be involved with the shareholder I don’t know,” he said.

Elaborating on his decision–making philosophy, he said: “When you look at the numbers the facts need to be weighed as the driving force of the decision, and individually you can’t let anything else interfere with that.”

The airline is to be a very customer driven organisation, he asserted. There are five top customer service items that will be focused on: “We’re going to concentrate on being safe and secure every day we fly,” he said. On–time performance is another top customer service priority. Time is very important to passengers as they all have things to do, he said.

Running on time is also important to the employees. “We can’t run an effective, efficient, lean, cost–driven organisation that runs off time, because employees have the same issues – they have to find babysitters, etc. if things are running late.”

Clean and neat is another essential: “This means that whether you’re an employee, or a facility or an airplane we want you to be clean and neat.” Getting passengers to a destination with their bag is another top priority, as is service with a smile.

Cutting costs is a main focus as part of the company’s turnaround. In order to cut costs the company will be gone through with a fine tooth comb, and Mr. Strasburger asserts that every little thing counts. “We’re going department by department, line by line in a zero based budget,” he said.

This process will also involve looking at what Lufthansa Consulting has come up with in its assessment and working together collaboratively to see where the company can be more productive and leverage technology to be more productive along with looking at what can reduce expense.

One such example is to cut a $192 yearly subscription fee paid for magazines. Most magazines that come in, come for free, so why pay a subscription for any, he asks. Every little thing like that counts, Mr. Strasburger said. Another example, he said, might be if office supplies come through five different vendors; they can try to consolidate a purchasing agreement through one, at a better rate.

He firmly believes that CAL does not need to be extravagant. “You can be professional and you can be clean and neat, but you don’t need to be extravagant. We’re going to go through everything and make sure that we’re not doing things that we don’t need to be doing.”

Generating more revenue is also high on the agenda and will be done by trying to ensure the product is priced competitively in different classes of service all the way up to the time of departure. Recently, some customers have complained of only being able to get business class prices to Miami, for instance, because if business class is all that is available then that is what a customer is offered, and at that price.

“That’s a yield management issue that the new VP Commercial has come in to address,” explained Scheduling Analyst Jean Ritch. “And it’s not that we’re charging more, because we’re right on line with other carriers. It’s the availability and structures”.

One area being worked on is a process whereby travel agents cannot put a block on a number of seats unless they submit names and money and work within a specific time limit.

The Lufthansa Consultants are also busy with the joint project of the turnaround plan. There are some airline positions in the process of being filled. “As soon as the team is completely assembled then we will start using the consulting departmentally to help drive the turnaround plan,” Mr. Strasburger said.

CAL has several new positions coming on: a VP of finance, a senior manager of information technology, a senior manager of HR and a senior manager of ground operations. The retiring of one of CAL’s passenger planes next month will not interfere with the schedule, especially since the Fort Lauderdale and Boston flights will be going out of service because those markets aren’t strong enough, he said.

Mr. Strasburger is not one to sit behind his desk the whole time. “Your inbox will significantly shrink if you’re out dealing with and meeting and talking to people and customers frequently”.

Another important factor for the successful operation of any airline is that the employees have to be happy and fulfilled, he said. “When they leave after a long hard day they have to be fulfilled. They have to have the ability to continually improve personally and professionally and they have to feel that they are treated with dignity and respect.

CAL is aiming for 1 July as the schedule for beginning to populate the new headquarters.

(From RJR Radio Jamaica, 02 April, 2007)
(Barbados, Letter) How much more are we supposed to take?
(From the Barbados Nation)

Can anyone explain the high costs of air fares around the Caribbean lately? Is it that these fares were inspired by World Cup Cricket (CWC), or the LIAT/Caribbean Star amalgamation? Where is the CSME? Are you, the leaders, encouraging movement throughout the islands or is it to discourage? Where are the spokespersons in the various ministries of tourism across the region?

Can anyone explain why it is that on return to Barbados after a day or two abroad, you are being asked to produce receipts for all clothing in your possession? In case there is a doubt on the part of the customs officer, you are asked to pay ridiculous prices for your pieces. Where you would have brought items for varying ages in a family, you are asked to explain same and also to give the size(s).

How much more personal is this situation going to get? I do wonder why visitors are treated differently?
Ask people travelling from Britain about the situation at the arrival hall. There are numerous bins in the check-in area and they are filled and overflowing every day with items which are "not allowed" on board. Are these items which are confiscated at any air/sea port dumped, or dumped into someone else's possession?

Also, there is only one check-in line "for security purposes" no matter which airline you are taking to whatever destination. The flights then have no choice but to be delayed.

With airfares at exorbitant prices, luggage allowances diminishing, and customs officers querying the price of every item down to your very personals, one can take that money and be a tourist in Barbados for a day, because the prices at the local hotels are also so high that tourists are complaining and soon will not be coming.

We have a belief that most, if not all, visitors are rich. Do we realise that most of them have to save for years to take a vacation, while we take up our pay packs and jet off to a destination even if only for a day? Would you believe a Bajan Yankee coming home for the "Cup" with a family was asked to pay $300 per night for a house for three weeks which was advertised for $1 800 per month. A room is also now $300 per night.

We can't come to support the CWC 'cause the tickets are too pricey. We can't consume the food; prices gone mad. We can't cry 'cause we got to save the tears for a rainy day, after all the parties are over.

Enjoy the CWC confusion in the nation of shows.

ALVA HOPE.

(From Yahoo! Business, 02 April, 2007)
(Trinidad) Caribbean Airlines Selects Sabre Airline Solutions' Ramco MRO System Via eMergo Environment to Achieve Efficient Maintenance, Engineering Operations.
Ramco Provides New Carrier with Easy-to-Use Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul Application; ASP Delivery Method Ensures Application's Rapid Deployment

Caribbean Airlines has signed an agreement with Sabre Airline Solutions, the global leader of software and services for the airline industry from planning to execution, to provide a new system for its maintenance, repair and overhaul applications and to have that system delivered via Sabre eMergo Web access.

Caribbean chose the Ramco MRO System, because of "its time to market, product superiority, hosting and the fact that Sabre Airline Solutions will be a single vendor for all our operations and MRO solutions," said Captain Ian Brunton, executive vice president of operations for Caribbean, the national airline of Trinidad and Tobago.

Caribbean Airlines' predecessor, BWIA, had been using the Sabre Maxi-Merlin maintenance, engineering and inventory system for the last 24 years. It opted to use the Ramco system from Sabre Airline Solutions as the long-awaited upgrade to the Maxi-Merlin system. Sabre Airline Solutions has more than 40 license holders on the Maxi-Merlin system and is offering those customers the Ramco solution as the modern upgrade. Sabre Airline Solutions supports a full guarantee that the Ramco system fully replaces the Maxi-Merlin tool, regardless of customer version.

"After 24 years on the Maxi-Merlin system, we recognized immediately that combining Sabre Airline Solutions' proven track record with the Ramco system's extra functionality would be a winning system for us," Brunton said. "In addition, the eMergo delivery process ensured we would be up and running right away, which was vital to us. It supports our quest to be self-sustaining and a profit center in our MRO operations."

The Ramco system will help Caribbean Airlines reduce operation and overhead costs while optimizing inventory, increasing operational performance and aircraft availability, and improving overall business process efficiency. It gives Caribbean a maintenance, repair and overhaul application that is all-encompassing and easy to use. By having the system delivered over the Internet and remotely accessed through the eMergo Web access environment, Caribbean will be able to obtain these benefits more rapidly than with a local installation.

"Our alliance with Ramco is growing stronger all the time," said Sabre Airline Solutions product vice president Mike Douglass, "We are now engaged with them on every kind of delivery model possible: local access, local install and, now with Caribbean, ASP. It proves that we are in the right space at the right time with the right partner."

"Caribbean is the first Maxi-Merlin system customer to migrate to the Ramco system," Douglass added. "We have around 40 current Maxi-Merlin system users today, and they can now use Caribbean's experience with the new system to evaluate their future needs."

Douglass also said Sabre Airline Solutions "will be providing an integrated operations solution with the Sabre Flite Control Suite for Caribbean and that supports our 'market, sell, serve, operate' strategy."

Even though Caribbean Airlines has been in operation only since Jan. 1, its origins are pre-World War II. BWIA was established on Nov. 27, 1940, flying between Trinidad and Barbados and grew to become the largest airline operating out of the Caribbean with hubs on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados and in Guyana.

"The officials at Caribbean, an icon in the southern Caribbean, possess excellent airline knowledge -- they really know their business," said Jim Fitzgerald, global executive vice president of Ramco MRO. "In order for us to earn their trust, we had to be able to incorporate their intelligence into our solution."

Caribbean currently flies out of Port of Spain's Piarco International Airport to Miami, New York, Toronto and the Caribbean destinations.

(From the Barbados Nation, 02 April, 2007)
(Barbados) British Airways' re-entry could drive fares down.

British Airways' introduction of direct flights from Barbados to Trinidad could possibly drive regional airfares down. This is the hope of industry players following the announcement last week that British Airways will be introducing direct flights between Barbados and Trinidad. The first flight was last Wednesday.

When BWIA grounded its aircraft on December 31, 2006, airfares throughout the region increased, discouraging potential Carnival revellers from making bookings to Trinidad. Airfares went from between $300 and $400 to between $500 and $800. This compares to the introductory fare of $407 being offered by British Airways until April 30, and an "equally attractive" regular fare thereafter.

Chief technical officer with the Ministry of International Transport, Valarie Browne said airfares had gone up higher than anticipated since BWIA closure, and said the direct flights offered by British Airways would assist with capacity and price control. Speaking at the International Aircraft Management/Jet Centre to launch the flights, she said that British Airways was important to Barbados as the airline brought 75 000 of the half-million tourists that come to the island.

British Airways district manager for Barbados and St Lucia, Nigel Blackett also noted that direct flights would provide an important increase in markets, with 280 passengers being brought to the region per day instead of the current 224.

(From the TCI Sun, 02 April, 2007)
(Turks & Caicos) Private jet crash lands on Provo runway.

All eyes were fixed on the Providenciales International Airport last Friday March 23 rd as a private jet was grounded on the runway in an area close to the Air Turks and Caicos FBO with emergency services blaring all around it.

Many thought it was another plane crash to occur on the island and rushed to see what had transpired with anxious breaths. On arrival the news was less gruesome than expected as a private jet was on the runway with a collapsed left main gear.

Reports indicate that the privately owned plane was scheduled to land in Provo to refuel after leaving St. Marteen and heading off to Palm Beach Florida in the United States, when at 4:27 p.m. the landing procedure went horribly wrong. On impact after landing the left main gear broke and the plane skidded on its left side for a few seconds until pilots were able to stop the jet just in front of the local FBO.

The emergency services of the Provo Airport immediately rushed to their assistance. Fortunately no one was hurt and the pilot, crew member and the two passengers (one male, one female) exited the plane a little shaken but unhurt.

Witnesses said that they heard a loud crash when the aircraft landed and looked around and saw it leaned on the left side then coming to an eventual stop. The jet (to-date) remains grounded in the Turks and Caicos Islands as technicians and mechanics had to be flown in to repair the damaged main gear.

Civil Aviation authorities were relieved at the news of no loss of life or injuries but as one official told this newspaper is concerned over the number of incidents thus far for the year to have occurred in the country. Stating that although these matters are most times out of their control the airport is standing ready for anything and the emergency services have been given extra support.

(From the Stabroek News, 02 April, 2007)
(Guyana) Hydraulic leak grounds LIAT flight at Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

An 11.45 am LIAT flight bound for Barbados was grounded at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) as a result of a hydraulic leak, forcing stranded passengers to wait until after 8 pm for another flight.

Stabroek News understands that the 11.45 am Liat Star of the Caribbean flight was almost full to capacity when the mechanical problem was discovered. Passengers were then asked to disembark, and were provided with snacks until they were able to depart at 8.45 pm.

Calls to the Liat office at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri and the airport duty office confirmed that flight 728 had indeed been affected by a problem and had been grounded.

As a result of the delay some of the passengers would have missed their connecting flights from Barbados. The aircraft could not be immediately repaired and the passengers were forced to wait for a replacement aircraft.

LIAT and Caribbean Star have formed a commercial alliance which officially came into effect on February 1, while on March 7 it was announced that negotiations toward merging both carriers had been finalized. Shareholders of LIAT (1974) Ltd and Caribbean Star Airlines Ltd made the announcement following a meeting in Antigua between the Prime Ministers of Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados and St Vincent & the Grenadines, the primary shareholders of LIAT; and Sir Allen Stanford, sole shareholder of Caribbean Star Airlines. Merger negotiations had been ongoing since October 2006.

(From the Antigua Sun, 03 April, 2007)
(Antigua) Carib Geberal Manager says airline facing financial difficulties.
by A. Aisha Browne

Escalating fuel prices and general operational costs were chief contributors to the proposed fare increase by Carib Aviation.

Carib Aviation General Manager Captain A. Dominic Noon told the Antigua Sun that those factors, coupled with the increases in insurance premiums and the onset of ABST, which the airline is not authorised to charge but must pay, prompted them to augment their fares.

Carib Aviation had already started advertising that the fare increase would have taken effect on 1 April, 2007 with the average ticket price moving from $183 return to $235 return.

However, subsequent to a meeting last week between Attorney-General Justin Simon, Minister of Civil Aviation Harold Lovell, Barbuda MP Trevor Walker, and himself, Noon said that it was agreed that a temporary hold would be put on any fare increase, pending further discussion with the government.

Noon further intimated that the airline’s carrier loads prior to the proposed increase were approximately15 passengers and not commercially justifiable.

“Sometimes we break even but most of the times we’re losing money.”

The bottom line, Noon said was that no one can expect a private entity or person to subsidise local travel.

He added that from the moment a service is negatively affected, strategies must be implemented for the benefit of not only the company, but clients as well.

“Unfortunately, what a lot of people do not seem to realise is if a route is not making money you either cut the route, or raise the prices; we chose to raise our prices,” Noon said.

Carib Aviation has been commuting between Antigua and Barbuda for approximately seven years with the last fare increase having been implemented some three to four years ago.

Meantime, Noon dismissed claims that Carib Aviation had refused to perform a “medevac” – the evacuation of people, usually by air transportation to a place where they can receive medical care – from Barbuda to Antigua last week.

Lincoln Burton, former chairman of Health, Disaster & Social Welfare within the Barbuda Council told the SUN that as a result of Carib Aviations alleged refusal, the request ultimately had to be asked of Norman Aviation.

Burton further alleged that “ministers had to be called to get a sick person to be airlifted out of Barbuda yesterday and pressure had to be put on Carib Aviation to come for that person. That cost was US$820.”

But, Noon told the SUN that he was not aware that there was a problem as the company actually performed two medevac airlifts from Barbuda last week, one on Wednesday and the other Friday, the latter of which he personally undertook.

Noon expressed optimism that all situations will see amenable solutions to the benefit of all stakeholders.

(From the Antigua Sun, 03 April, 2007)
(Antigua) Carib GM says airline facing financial difficulties.
by A. Aisha Browne

Escalating fuel prices and general operational costs were chief contributors to the proposed fare increase by Carib Aviation. Carib Aviation General Manager Captain A. Dominic Noon told the Antigua Sun that those factors, coupled with the increases in insurance premiums and the onset of ABST, which the airline is not authorised to charge but must pay, prompted them to augment their fares.

Carib Aviation had already started advertising that the fare increase would have taken effect on 1 April, 2007 with the average ticket price moving from $183 return to $235 return.

However, subsequent to a meeting last week between Attorney-General Justin Simon, Minister of Civil Aviation Harold Lovell, Barbuda MP Trevor Walker, and himself, Noon said that it was agreed that a temporary hold would be put on any fare increase, pending further discussion with the government.

Noon further intimated that the airline’s carrier loads prior to the proposed increase were approximately15 passengers and not commercially justifiable. “Sometimes we break even but most of the times we’re losing money.” The bottom line, Noon said was that no one can expect a private entity or person to subsidise local travel.

He added that from the moment a service is negatively affected, strategies must be implemented for the benefit of not only the company, but clients as well. “Unfortunately, what a lot of people do not seem to realise is if a route is not making money you either cut the route, or raise the prices; we chose to raise our prices,” Noon said.

Carib Aviation has been commuting between Antigua and Barbuda for approximately seven years with the last fare increase having been implemented some three to four years ago. Meantime, Noon dismissed claims that Carib Aviation had refused to perform a “medevac” – the evacuation of people, usually by air transportation to a place where they can receive medical care – from Barbuda to Antigua last week.

Lincoln Burton, former chairman of Health, Disaster & Social Welfare within the Barbuda Council told the SUN that as a result of Carib Aviations alleged refusal, the request ultimately had to be asked of Norman Aviation. Burton further alleged that “ministers had to be called to get a sick person to be airlifted out of Barbuda yesterday and pressure had to be put on Carib Aviation to come for that person. That cost was US$820.

But, Noon told the SUN that he was not aware that there was a problem as the company actually performed two medevac airlifts from Barbuda last week, one on Wednesday and the other Friday, the latter of which he personally undertook. Noon expressed optimism that all situations will see amenable solutions to the benefit of all stakeholders.

(From the St. Maarten Herald, 03 April, 2007)
(St. Maarten) Diversifying St. Maarten should remain a priority.

News from Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) that there is demand for St. Maarten in Venezuela is most welcome. With its two jets DAE will now be in a position to offer airlift needed to target that market; the airline says it’s creating packages to do so and has reduced the waiting time for passengers coming into Curaçao on its flights from Venezuela and connecting to St. Maarten.

Particularly during the current Holy Week, Curaçao and Aruba are flooded with tourists from Venezuela who come to spend their holidays there. They are good shoppers and like to go out, so it is a big help for the hotels and other tourism-related businesses at the end of their high season.

The same would be true for St. Maarten if it were to attract more South American tourists, not just during Holy Week, but during the entire low season, when most hotels and resorts can use a boost in terms of some more guests. The efforts to do so are ongoing, also in terms of South American countries where it is winter during the low season here and many people want to enjoy some warm Caribbean weather.

If DAE’s flights can help provide a breakthrough in the Venezuelan market it will give the island a basis to work on other South American countries as well.

Were “The Friendly Island” able to attract more visitors during the quiet period, it would help make employment in the tourism economy less seasonal and contribute to social stability within the community. Diversifying St. Maarten’s tourism and its markets should remain a priority.

(From the St. Maarten Herald, 03 April, 2007)
(St. Maarten) Dutch Antilles Express to add second jet flight on Friday.

To cope with the increased demand on the Curaçao-St. Maarten route, especially on Fridays, Antillean airline Dutch Antilles Express (DAE) will add a second jet flight to its Friday itinerary. The new schedule will go into effect this Friday. Up to now the second flight was operated with an ATR propeller aircraft.

This second jet flight from Curaçao to St. Maarten on board DAE’s 100-seater Fokker 100 leaves Curaçao at 5:15pm. The return flight will depart St. Maarten at 7:25pm. The morning flight from to St. Maarten to Curaçao departs from St. Maarten at 11:15am.

DAE Chief Executive Officer Floris van Pallandt said the decision to operate a second jet flight on Fridays has to do with the substantial market demand on the St. Maarten route.

The demand for St. Maarten is also up amongst passengers originating in Venezuela, mainly from Valencia. DAE has been operating a successful Curaçao-Valencia route since December 2005. To accommodate passengers coming from Valencia and travelling on to St. Maarten, DAE has adjusted the departure time of Friday evening flight to St. Maarten by leaving at 5:15pm instead of 6:00pm, making the connection time in Curaçao shorter.

“The second jet flight to St. Maarten is a renewed expression of our confidence in the market,” said Van Pallandt. DAE opened yet another route to Caracas on March 20. Together with tour operators in Venezuela, DAE is creating packages for the Venezuelan market. The packages will also include St. Maarten. “There is a demand for St. Maarten,” said Van Pallandt, who added that DAE would continue to stimulate the market with attractive tariffs.

The Antillean airline started to operate daily jet flights to and from St. Maarten with its Fokker-100 on February 15, 2007.

(From CaribbeanNetNews, 05 April, 2007)
(Barbados, Letter) Sky high intra Caribbean airfares!

Dear Sir:

Despite assurances by Minister of Tourism, Noel Lynch that intra Caribbean airfares would not be allowed to escalate in the wake of a LIAT/Caribbean Star merger and the re-branding on BWIA into Caribbean Airlines, fares within in the region are the highest on record.

Take a return flight from Barbados to St. Maarten as an example. US$390.55 with Caribbean Airlines (the only non stop option), which includes a massive US$132.55 in taxes! Click on to 'latest offers' on the Caribbean Airlines website and you will find the taxes payable for Barbados departures are the second highest of all the destinations offered within the region.

Every indicator shows that Barbados is going to suffer a very soft tourism summer after the mixed 'fortunes' of hosting the CWC Cricket Matches and intra Caribbean travel has traditionally been the lifeline for many of our accommodation providers and ancillary services.

Those Barbadians contemplating a long weekend away to a neighbouring island are now faced with inhibitive departure and other taxes, and unless this issue is addressed, it will certainly restrict any meaningful growth in travel throughout the region.

Adrian Loveridge

(From the Trinidad Guardian, 07 April, 2007)
(Barbados) Air Jamaica delivers on Barbados/New York route.

From left, Senator Rudy Grant, US Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Mary M Ourisman, Air Jamaica’s chief executive Michael Conway and its vice president of sales George deMercado.

Air Jamaica’s new schedule to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean routes is exceeding expectations, reports the airline’s vice president of sales, George deMercado.

DeMercado said that the carrier’s new non-stop daily service between New York and Barbados, with continuing service to St Lucia (four days a week) and Grenada (three days) is delivering good returns, following the decision by Caribbean Airlines (formerly BWIA West Indies Airways) to pull out from the Barbados-New York route. “The loyalty demonstrated by West Indians and visitors alike has been extremely encouraging, and our business throughout the Spring break and Easter holiday season has been rock solid,” said deMercado.

Air Jamaica is the national carrier of Jamaica and also is the designated flag carrier of Barbados. During a recent visit to Barbados to mark ten years of service to the island, the airline’s president and CEO, Michael Conway, reiterated Air Jamaica’s commitment to the island and the Eastern Caribbean region.

“I know there was a great deal of concern in this market with recent changes that have taken place. Working with a lot of very sincere people who did a vast amount of research, we were able to move quickly and fill a void that came about rather abruptly—that’s how serious we take the designation you have given our carrier,” Conway told local travel agents.

Conway added that now that the Government of Jamaica has approved restructuring plans, “we will be doing some re-fleeting, route rationalisation ... and have identified the Eastern Caribbean and particularly Barbados as a major point of emphasis for the airline,” hinting that additional flights were in the works in the months ahead.

Senator Rudy Grant, parliamentary secretary in Barbados‚ Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, said Air Jamaica provided a very valued service to Barbados and the country looked forward to strengthening the partnership to fully exploit the opportunities for continued growth and development of the tourism sector.

“When it was very clear that we were losing service from New York, Air Jamaica came to the table with us and agreed that they would partner with us ... (and) I want to emphasise that we are very grateful for the partnership that Air Jamaica has given us.”

Air Jamaica operates daily Airbus A-320 service between John F Kennedy International (JFK) Airport in New York and Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados with 138 seats in Economy and 12 in Executive Business Class.

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