Expensive jet fuel and a soft United States economy have caused American Airlines to announce cuts in daily flights out of its Caribbean hub in Puerto Rico, from 93 to 51 this month.
Already gone are flights to Antigua, St Maarten, Aruba, and Santo Domingo and Samana in the Dominican Republic.
But with a projected sharp increase in visitor arrivals, Jamaican authorities are trying to ensure that the airline continues its flights into the island, and are willing to pay the airline to keep landing in Kingston and Montego Bay.
Also in the news last week ...
Painful recovery
It has been a slow and painful recovery from the effects of Tropical Storm Gustav for persons in the parish of Portland, which first felt the brunt of the weather system which hit the island in late August.
Up to last Saturday, Portland and sections of St Mary remained without electricity, while many householders who had lost their roofs were trying to put their lives back together.
$3 billion damage
Tropical Storm Gustav has left at least $3 billion in damage to the country's road infrastructure, says Minister of Transport and Works Mike Henry.
He says a full assessment of the damage to the road network has not been made, but the damage done to two main bridges alone is approximately $1.5 billion.
Bruce Golding: one year in office
Bruce Golding came into office on the tail end of Hurricane Dean and ends his first year as prime minister trying to navigate the turbulence of Tropical Storm Gustav.
In between the storms, his government has had a bumpy ride, with international oil and grain prices hitting record levels and the country's murder total heading in the wrong direction.
But despite the challenges, at least two analysts say the administration has done a reasonable job in dealing with the economy.
New bridge could take 24 months
Minister of Transport Mike Henry says the rebuilding of the Hope River bridge is expected to take up to 24 months.
"We are mid-hurricane season, and establishing a new bridge will take up to 24 months, so we need to check the weight levels of vehicles to determine whether a JUTC bus, fully loaded, can cross," Henry told The Gleaner at the opening of the pedestrian section of the temporary structure in Harbour View, St Andrew, on Tuesday.
Holness talks tough on school violence
One day before the beginning of the new school year, Education Minister Andrew Holness warned that violence in school would not be tolerated.
In his back-to-school address to the nation Tuesday night, Holness said his ministry was taking a zero- tolerance approach to the possession of weapons and drugs, and the existence of gangs in schools.
'I am qualified' - Forbes blasts critics
New permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mining and Telecom-munications, Marcia Forbes, has fired back at her detractors who have charged that she was appointed to the post because of her relationship with the governing Jamaica Labour Party .
"I have a Bachelor of Arts degree with first-class honours, a master's and will shortly complete my PhD," Forbes told The Gleaner yesterday.
She was responding to questions from the Opposition People's National Party after news broke that she had been appointed permanent secretary in the recently established ministry headed by Derrick Smith.
