Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
AS OF November, Jamaica will enjoy a total of 18 flights per day from two lucrative United States gateways - Miami and Ft. Lauderdale in Florida.
This comes in the wake of an announcement this week by U.S. Airways to introduce a second service into Kingston from Ft. Lauderdale effective November 9, and a new Saturday service out of Boston into Montego Bay from November 12. The new service adds to the already existing airlines: Air Jamaica, which currently operates four Ft. Lauderdale and one Miami flights; American Airlines' six daily; and Spirit Airlines, which will commence with three daily flights on November 10.
BOOST TO ECONOMY
"It is great news for the tourist industry which is suffering at this time and even better news for the Jamaican economy," an elated Richard Pile, district sales manager for U.S. Airways, told a group of travel agents at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.
Pile said the airline placed the flight into its reservation system three days ago and was already booked at 80 per cent.
The airline also announced an increase of commission to travel agents from six to eight per cent. "I rely heavily on our travel partners, the travel agents, so we are rewarding them for their support and commitment to U.S. Airways."
On September 7, Air Jamaica will add one more flight from Kingston into Miami.
U.S. Airways will also try to fill part of the void that Air Jamaica will leave next Monday when it discontinues its Boston route. "We are introducing a Saturday flight out of Boston on November 12, because Boston has always been a good market for us, but it's not a market that is profitable on a daily basis," said Pile.
The expanded airlift is being welcomed by David Shields, deputy director of Tourism, who believes this lays the basis for increased confidence as the island look at the upcoming winter season. "Understanding the strong correlation that exists between air access and visitor arrivals," he added.
The U.S. Airways announcement follows a news release last week by American Airlines to start daily scheduled service out of Dallas, Fort Worth.
"The announcement of American Airlines to start Dallas, Fort Worth, is strategically important for Jamaica and is a very important opportunity for our Midwest market, and western U.S., as well as western Canada. Our Japanese market will also benefit significantly because the American Airlines flight will allow for same day one-stop service from Narita Tokyo in Japan to MoBay," said Shields.
