WESTERN BUREAU:
AT A reduced fare of US$100, Air Jamaica flew into its newest gateway Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday.
Under normal circumstances, a ticket would have cost over US$600 booked in advance. The reduced fare was a one-time offer for those on the maiden flight.
John Lewis, the airline's chief operating officer and executive vice-president, said the opening up of the Phoenix gateway, which will link into Air Jamaica's Montego Bay Hub, is meant to attract new tourist fares into Jamaica.
"The introduction of service to Phoenix provides a convenient gateway to Jamaica and Air Jamaica's network of nine Caribbean islands," said Mr. Lewis just before take-off at a short ceremony at the Sangster International Airport.
Will Rogers, senior vice-president, told The Gleaner that by adding Phoenix to its flight schedule, it would attract to Jamaica the vacationers who normally would head across to Mexico and Hawaii to escape the western desert temperature that rises to over 100©F during the summer months.
Jamaica Tourist Board's Regional Manager Pat Samuels said that since Air Jamaica has opened up the US West Coast 60,000 tourists from that region have come to the island.
The airline will operate twice weekly flights into Scottsdale
Municipal Airport, Phoenix, departing Thursday and Saturday afternoons from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.
