Chile´s LAN is bent on nabbing 25 percent of the Argentine air market based on a recent agreement signed with the administration of President Nestor Kirschner, that has been making headlines in the local press. Two years from now, we´d love to have 1,500 people working for us and some 15 planes up in the air, with four or five jetliners covering international routes that will make up 20 to 25 percent of the Argentine market, said Julio Vidal, general manager of the LAN affiliate in this country.

Air Jamaica´s Chairman, Vin Lawrence, has given assurance that with the government assistance, appointment of the new board of directors, the dedicated staff and of the support of its loyal passengers, the airline would survive and will return to its once glory days. Speaking in New York to travel agents, Caribbean diplomats and Caribbean-American community leaders, Mr Lawrence said that recent changes with the troubled airline should not give cause for fear, and urged his audience to continue supporting the airline that has sustained losses of more than US$50 million over the past four years due mainly to increasing fuel prices.

The Grenada government has warned the temporary cancellation Air Jamaica´s flights to the Eastern Caribbean will severely disrupt the island´s efforts at reviving its tourism industry following the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September last year. Tourism Minister, Brenda Hood, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that efforts would be made to hold urgent talks with Air Jamaica´s management and the local aviation body, since the suspension could result in a sharp decline in tourist arrivals.

The Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance has unanimously approved TAP Air Portugal´s application to join the alliance which will further enhance the network´s ´Latin Link´. "TAP Air Portugal solidifies our reach on the Iberian Peninsula through its network spanning Europe, Brazil and Africa," said Jaan Albrecht, CEO, Star Alliance. "When combined with member carriers Spanair and VARIG, TAP will play a pivotal role in delivering quality service and connectivity between South America and Europe."

Portuguese private group Pestana, owner of Euro Atlantic, had a meeting with the Brazilian Government to make an official proposal to buy 20% of Varig, the downtrodden air carrier that´s been struggling with dire financial woes for quite some time now. However, Brazil´s government had already removed the management of Varig, taking control of Latin America´s No. 1 air carrier, to guarantee the company´s jobs and flight schedule, the country´s airport authority said.

The financially-struggling Air Jamaica has suspended all flights from Jamaica to its Eastern Caribbean gateways due to the new accelerated maintenance schedule required by the Civil Aviation Authority of Jamaica (JCAA), the company said. According to the airline statement, it will resume the full schedule on April 16, 2005. Air Jamaica´s executive chairman, Vincent Lawrence, indicated the company routinely carried out major maintenance checks during low demand periods on an eighteen-month cycle.