Business
Caribbean Airlines to cut back on Jamaica flights
Latest reports indicate that the Trinidad & Tobago carrier – Caribbean Airlines will be reducing on the number of flights to Jamaica and major US gateways such as New York and Florida.
The reduction in flights has been confirmed by the head of communications at Caribbean Airlines, Clint Williams, who revealed that the cuts become effective on April 16.
The reduction on flights is expected to impact Jamaica negatively – considering that Caribbean Airlines was in the process of completing the acquisition of the soon to be defunct Air Jamaica, which was critical to the island-nation’s tourism industry.
Caribbean Airlines, which began operations in 2007, acquired Air Jamaica in 2011. The Jamaican Government has a 16 percent stake in the air carrier.
Jamaica’s opposition party, the Jamaican Labor Party (JLP) has raised its concern about the impending reduction in Caribbean Airlines flights to Jamaica.
According to the party’s spokesperson on Transport, Karl Samuda, Spokesman on Transport, said the decision is contrary to the deal which was reached for the airline to acquire Air Jamaica.
“At the time of the divestment we certainly did it on the basis and had the clear understanding that not only would Caribbean Airlines continue to service, but hopefully in the near future expand the number of flights to Jamaica and from Jamaica. To hear now that they are cutting back, in addition to being disappointing, may well indicate the extent to which the airline is under financial pressure,” said Samuda.
