Deon P. Green, Sunday Gleaner Writer
London, England:
A planned scaling down of its services on the London to Kingston route by the national carrier Air Jamaica is now looming, and sections of the Jamaican community and travel agents who serve the airline in the United Kingdom are concerned.
Reports reaching The Sunday Gleaner indicate that a meeting was held at the Jamaican High Commission in London on Thursday, where members of the Jamaican community were told of the airline's plans.
A source who attended, but wish to remain unidentified, disclosed that the gathering was informed that the airline is now at a delicate stage with its plans, which includes the possible sale of its air route to British Airways or Virgin Airlines. Virgin Airlines recently began operating from the United States into Montego Bay and is believed to be at the forefront of the bid to purchase Air Jamaica's Kingston to London route.
Competition
The Sunday Gleaner was further informed that the national carrier's scaling down plans come against the country's increasing fuel bill, competition on the Kingston to London route, the possibility of further competition from other airlines and huge financial loss by the airline which the Government is unable to continue subsidising.
It is understood the Jamaican community members who attended the meeting were disgruntled that such plans could be taking place without prior consultation with the group in the United Kingdom, who takes pride in flying with their national airline.
At the same time, travel agents based in London who serve the national carrier and could suffer great financial loss from the planned scaling down of its operations, are also perturbed by the pending development.
To institute changes
Newlook Travel Agency, one of the main travel agents serving Air Jamaica, said they have been made to understand that Air Jamaica intended to institute some changes to its London operations which will result in a scaling down of some services. The travel agent is awaiting a formal notification of the airline's position.
When The Sunday Gleaner contacted the Jamaican High Commission on the matter, a source said that High Commissioner, Burchell Whiteman, was not available to comment.
The recent development contrasts with comments made in London by Finance Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, last year, while addressing members of the Jamaican community.
At the time, the minister said that the Government was committed to Air Jamaica and had devised clear strategies for its continued operations. He said that the strategies to address the airline's debt problem include re-fleeting which would save a minimum of US$40 million a year, along with the availability of experts for technical problems within 24 hours.
Efforts to get a comment from the Air Jamaica office in London proved futile as a source there said that information can only be made available through its communication arm, which was already closed.
