Air Jamaica informed that the number of tickets sold via the company’s Web site – www.airjamaica.com – during the first quarter of 2005 increased by 50% over the same period in 2004. More than 7,100 tickets were sold in total, including a one-month record high of 2,839 tickets sold in February. Will Rodgers, Air Jamaica’s Senior Vice President of Industry Affairs, commented on the increase, saying, The surge in Web sales is very encouraging, especially in light of our restructuring program and need to cut costs.

Air Jamaica said it will suspend its services to the island of Bonaire, in the Netherlands Antilles, by Aug. 28. The carrier, which has been undergoing restructuring since it was re-acquired by the Jamaican government in December 2004, will phase out its Bonaire services in two stages. Starting June 27, Air Jamaica will end Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday departures of flights 66 and 67 between Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Bonaire.

TAP-Portugal is in talks with heavily indebted Brazilian carrier Varig to buy a stake in the airline, Latin America´s largest, but has no interest in a merger, TAP president Fernando Pinto said. He told Lisbon-based news radio TSF that TAP, Portugal´s biggest airline, wanted to acquire 20 percent of Varig, the maximum allowed under Brazilian law for a foreign company.

Copa Airlines confirmed an order for two more Embraer 190 aircraft, adding to the original firm order for 10 aircraft that the airline announced in 2004. In addition, Copa will convert its existing order to Embraer´s new 190AR (Advanced Range) version, which provides increased range and operating flexibility. Deliveries of the two additional Embraer 190AR aircraft are scheduled for October and November of 2006.

In another sign of Air Jamaica´s financial woes, the airline has informed that it would suspend all service to Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, effective August 28, as part of its corporate restructuring program. According to a statement, the suspension of Air Jamaica´s Bonaire service would be carried out in two phases. In phase one, JM flights 66/67 operating Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday would be suspended as of June 27 and in phase two, all JM service to and from Bonaire would be suspended on August 28, 2005.

A member of Air Jamaica´s management team believes the financially plagued airline will continue serving Jamaica and the Caribbean, in spite of its problems that also include a reduced schedule and suspension of flights to several destinations. Talking to a New York radio show, Kaye Chong, manager of community and special market sales, says the State-run airline will triumph over its challenges through continued business perseverance and faith.