CASTRIES, CMC:
A SENIOR Air Jamaica official is predicting a good performance for the carrier in 2004 based on its overall showing, including moderate financial growth last year.
Vice-president of Marketing Michael Going said that the company has been making steady strides during the course of last year and was well positioned for a productive take-off during 2004.
"We are on a very strong road to rebuilding the carrier to pre-9/11 positions both in terms of our financial and operating performances and our position in the marketplace," Mr Going said.
Caribbean airlines, like their counterparts worldwide, had taken a severe beating as a result of the downturn in the tourism and travel sectors due to the terrorist attacks in the United States in September 2001.
But there are encouraging signs that the industry is rebounding as more airlines, including those from the United States, seek to do more business in the region.
Mr. Going said that the operational performance of the carrier was now "rock solid," including its on-time performance, baggage handling, and regularity of scheduled services.
"We are currently at a point where during the month of October 2003, Air Jamaica earned the premium position among any international carrier operating worldwide for our on- time performance," Mr. Going said.
"From an Air Jamaica standpoint we do believe that's the way to bring back customers which is something we have been working very hard on," he added. Mr. Going said that airline would be constantly seeking to improve its finances during the year, adding, "There are some early signs that the market is coming back."
"It is not returning in a groundswell but we think the Caribbean is in a good position from a tourism standpoint to capitalise on the North American tourism dollar during 2004, and we will ensure that we get a piece of that pie," Mr. Going said.
He said tourism officials throughout the marketplace were indicating that the Eastern Caribbean destinations like St. Lucia and Barbados were poised for significant growth this year and as a result were increasingly attracting traffic out of the Unites States.
"So we will be promoting our marketing strongly and with the easy connection activity afforded by the hub, we expect that will bring us more business into the Eastern Caribbean," he noted.
Mr. Going said Air Jamaica was eagerly anticipating the re-launch of its Toronto service in April 2004 that it discontinued 15 years ago, and the return of the jet service to the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas.
