Caribbean Airlines Takes Over Operations of Air Jamaica

Caribbean Airlines took over operations of Air Jamaica on Saturday, May 1. Air Jamaica will continue its current operations under a contractual arrangement with Caribbean Airlines. “There will be no disruption of service, as all tickets previously issued to the passengers will be honored,” said Dennis Lalor, Air Jamaica’s chairman.

Last week, the Cabinet of the government of Jamaica approved the terms of an Agreement for the Divestment of the operations of Air Jamaica to Caribbean Airlines, effective Friday, April 30. On Saturday, Caribbean Airlines assumed full financial responsibility for Air Jamaica. The government will transfer Air Jamaica’s routes to Caribbean Airlines in exchange for a 16 percent ownership in Caribbean Airlines. However, the government of Jamaica will remain the owner of all of Air Jamaica’s other assets, including its real estate and industrial assets.

After a period of 6 to 12 months, Caribbean Airlines will fully enforce its plan to provide sustainable airlift to/from Jamaica. Those plans call for the initial operations to continue serving routes from JFK to Montego Bay, JFK to Kingston, Baltimore to Montego Bay, Philadelphia to Montego Bay, Toronto to Kingston, Fort Lauderdale to Montego Bay, and Fort Lauderdale to Kingston. Any changes to that schedule would be announced by Caribbean Airlines.