AIR JAMAICA, the national airline, is expecting to save $1 billion annually from the acquisition of four new fuel-efficient A321 aircraft.
According to Christopher Zacca, the airline's deputy chairman and chief executive officer, the acquisition of the new aircraft "will save us US$18 million, which is over a J$1 billion annually with their introduction."
Air Jamaica now has a fleet of 20 aircraft.
COST-SAVING MEASURES
He said the new additions which form part of the airline's attempts to rationalise its fleet, "represent the cornerstone of one of the significant cost-saving measures that we have implemented over the years." Since the implementation of the cost-saving measures, "we have replaced four A310s which are inefficient fuel burners with four brand new efficient A321s," he said.
Mr. Zacca who was speaking at the dedication ceremony of two of the four new A321s to the towns of Spanish Town and Mandeville yesterday, announced that the airline would be embarking on an aggressive marketing campaign in the next 14 to 15 months as part of efforts to recover revenue lost in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
He implored policymakers to "ensure that all the players in tourism get it right; the infrastructure, the marketing, the product, the image".
At the dedication ceremony at the Air Jamaica hangar at the Norman Manley International Airport, east Kingston, Gordon "Butch" Stewart, Air Jamaica's chairman, presented both the Mayors of Spanish Town and Mandeville, Dr. Raymoth Notice, and Councillor Desmond Harrison respectively, with plaques commemorating the occasion. The two aircraft were named the "Spirit of Mandeville" and the Spirit of Spanish Town".
TIMELY GESTURE
Rudolph Green, president of the St. Catherine Chamber of Commerce, expressed appreciation on behalf of the Spanish Town community and described the dedication as a significant and timely gesture.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Marjorie Simpson, a representative of Global Travel Service, who spoke on behalf of the Mandeville community.
Mr. Stewart said the next aircraft would be dedicated to Bob Marley, the late reggae icon.
