Air Jamaica

Infobox_Airline
airline=Air Jamaica
logo=Air Jamaica Logo.svg
logo_size=255
fleet_size=14 (+2 orders)
destinations=18
IATA=JM
ICAO=AJM
callsign=JAMAICA
parent=Ministry of Finance and the Public Service
founded=October 1968cite book|last=Norwood|first=Tom|coauthors=Wegg, John|title=North American Airlines Handbook|publisher=Airways International|location=Sandpoint, ID|date=2002|edition=3rd|isbn=0-9653993-8-9|url=http://www.airwaysnews.com]
commenced=1969-04-01
headquarters=Kingston, Jamaica
key_people=Shirley Williams (Chairman Of The Board) Bruce Nobles (President and CEO)
hubs=Sangster International Airport Norman Manley International Airport
focus_cities = John F. Kennedy International Airport Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Miami International Airport
frequent_flyer=7th Heaven
lounge=
alliance=
website= http://www.airjamaica.com

Air Jamaica, Ltd is Jamaica's national airline and the largest Caribbean based airline. Headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica, it operates scheduled services from Kingston and Montego Bay to 26 destinations in the Caribbean, Canada, the United States. Its main base is Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston with a hub at Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay Flight International 27 March 2007] . The airline has had no fatal incidents.

History

Air Jamaica was established in October 1968 and started operations on 1 April 1969, connecting Kingston and Montego Bay, with New York and Miami. At that time the Jamaican government owned a substantial part of the airline, with Air Canada owning a minor share and providing technical, maintenance and logistical help.

During the 1970s, Air Jamaica expanded rapidly. Flights were added to Toronto and Montreal in Canada, to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Puerto Rico, to Philadelphia and many other destinations, especially across the Caribbean. Long-haul services to Europe were started on 1 April 1974. Air Jamaica used Douglas DC-8s for a large part of the 1970s, but the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and Boeing 727 jets became a part of the fleet towards the end of the decade when the government bought over Air Canada's small share. During the 1980s, growth slowed. Nevertheless, new routes were still opened, to Baltimore and Atlanta.

During the 1990s Air Jamaica continued to expand: the airline took over the Kingston-Nassau, Bahamas route, which had been left by British Airways, began a code sharing agreement with Delta Air Lines and opened routes to Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix (which was later dropped), and to Frankfurt, London, Manchester, Santo Domingo and Ft. Lauderdale. The route to Phoenix was opened because Air Jamaica was looking for expansion in the American West, beyond its route to Los Angeles. In 1994 the company was partially privatized, with the government retaining 25% of the company and giving 5% of it to the airline's employees. It began buying Airbus equipment, including the Airbus A340, and began a feeder service, a frequent flyer program ("7th Heaven"), and an inflight magazine, named "SkyWritings". Air Jamaica has opened a large operations base in Saint Lucia. Fact|date=April 2007

In December 2004, after financial losses, the Government of Jamaica took back full ownership of Air Jamaica. It employs 2,522 staff (at March 2007).

In September 2007, the new Jamaican government began to consider privatisation of Air Jamaica. Investors with interest in the airline are speculated to be China National Aviation Holding Company (parent company of Air China), Lan Airlines, Virgin Group, Iberia Airlines and the The Emirates Group. A private Spanish, British and American consortium is in talks with the Government of Jamaica to bid for the national carrier as well. [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070915t010000-0500_127401_obs_air_j_virgin_deal_a_priority_for_new_transport_minister.asp Air J/Virgin deal a priority for new transport minister] ] North American Airlines wet lease arrangements with Air Jamaica, to provide additional airlift for the summer 2008 period has expired.

Destinations

North America

*Canada
**Toronto (Toronto Pearson International Airport)
*United States
**Atlanta (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport)
**Baltimore (Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport)
**Chicago (O'Hare International Airport)
**Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport)
**Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport)
**Miami (Miami International Airport)
**New York City(John F. Kennedy International Airport)
**Orlando (Orlando International Airport)
**Philadelphia (Philadelphia International Airport);Caribbean
*Bahamas
**Nassau (Nassau International Airport)
*Barbados
**Bridgetown (Grantley Adams International Airport)
*Cayman Islands
**Grand Cayman (Owen Roberts International Airport)
*Cuba
**Havana (José Martí Airport)
*Grenada
**St. George's, Grenada (Point Salines International Airport)
*Jamaica
**Kingston (Norman Manley International Airport) Hub
**Montego Bay (Sangster International Airport) Hub
*Netherlands Antilles
**Curaçao (Hato International Airport)

Codeshare

Air Jamaica have codeshare agreements with the following airlines:
* Air Canada (ends October 28, 2008)
*All Nippon Airways
* Cayman Airways
* Cubana
* LIAT
* Virgin Atlantic Airways

Fleet

The Air Jamaica fleet consists of the following aircraft (as at September 2008)

Previously operated

Air Jamaica has operated the Airbus A300, Airbus A340-300, Airbus A310, Boeing 727-200,Boeing 747-200, Douglas DC-8, McDonnell Douglas DC-9, and McDonnell Douglas MD-83. [ [http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/Air-Jamaica PlaneSpotters.net] ]

Air Jamaica cargo

Air Jamaica Cargo's Head Office is at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica. Air Jamaica Cargo has 70% of the airfreight market between Jamaica and the rest of the world.

References

External links

* [http://www.airjamaica.com/ Air Jamaica official website]