AIR JAMAICA Express, a subsidiary of national carrier Air Jamaica, will be expanding its reach in the Caribbean when it starts flying to Havana, Cuba, and the Turks and Caicos Islands later this month.
The island's largest domestic carrier, Air Jamaica Express, will begin flying to Havana on Thursday, and to Turks and Caicos on Saturday.
Air Jamaica Chairman Gordon "Butch" Stewart made the announcement on Friday at a press conference in Kingston. He said persons wishing to fly to either destination will benefit from a five times per week service, Thursday through Monday, on a Dash 8-100, 37 seat aircraft.
The state-of-the-art aircraft comes complete with air-conditioned stand up cabins, overhead compartments for hand luggage, washroom and galley with a flight attendant on board. The pressurised aircraft can fly at altitudes of up to 25,000 feet.
"Our partnership in this expansion with Air Jamaica Express to the Turks & Cacois Islands is in continuation of Air Jamaica's mission to provide the best service available and to make the entire Caribbean region as easily accessible as possible," said Allen Chastanet, Air Jamaica's vice president for sales and marketing.
Paul Moreira, president and chief executive officer at Air Jamaica Express, said the move was aimed at broadening the airline's reach to neighbouring countries, after offering four years of "exceptional domestic service" locally.
Currently Air Jamaica Express provides commuter service for leisure and business travellers, linking Kingston, Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio. Mr. Stewart said Haiti and the Dominican Republic could be added to the destinations flown by the airline, in the near future.
There are long-term plans to operate into Mandeville when either a new aerodrome is constructed or the existing one upgraded.
Noting that the new destinations will bring more pressure to bear on Air Jamaica's Montego Bay hub, Christopher Zacca, the airline's chief executive officer said a doubling of the facilities at the Sangster International Airport would be needed in the next five years to cope with the expected increase in traffic. He said he hoped such an expansion would be part of any agreement reached for the sale of the airport.
