THE EDITOR, Sir:
I HAVE seen quite a few flights coming out of Miami and Fort Lauderdale with almost half empty seats and also out of Kingston. To pay almost US$600 for a flight that lasts only one hour & 21 minutes is downright ridiculous. Many people are not travelling because of the high fares.
We have been complaining about Air Jamaica's fare out of Miami and Fort Lauderdale for quite a while now. These are hard economic times and Jamaicans are cutting back on trips to Jamaica. A family of four cannot take a vacation anymore. If two children have to pay adult fare, airline tickets alone could cost over US$2,000, so less passengers are travelling.
Last April and August, I took a trip to Kingston and on both flights in and out of Kingston the plane was half empty. If Air Jamaica would charge a flat fare of say US$300 to US$350, more passengers would fly and planes would be up to capacity. The days of just flying down to Jamaica impromptu are over. The fares are just too expensive.
There are low-cost airlines in the USA that are showing a profit. Air Jamaica can do the same. US Air will be flying out of Fort Lauderdale next March to Jamaica as a low-cost airline. Wake up, Air Jamaica, we are all not rich.
I am, etc.,
DANNY VASSELL
devasse747@yahoo.com
Pembroke Pines, Florida
Via Go-Jamaica
