The Editor, Sir:

Richard Branson is now richer than the nation of Jamaica, I assume. But you don't necessarily need money to make money. When I consider Air Jamaica, the fact that its aims are to be the 'proud national carrier' and that it is backed by the resources of both private investors and the Government, I wonder what are they doing wrong?

If Air Jamaica was being run as a dynamic, profit-driven business, they would have no problem profiting from the route they just sold to another airline. Most will agree that Virgin is a well-managed conglomorate, and its profitability and success shows this. The airline industry is not dying, in fact, there are airlines that are growing, new airlines that are striking early profits and scope for expansion. The onl to air travel is via ship or vehicle which are not practical for the majority of long- distance commuters.

The key to the success of Virgin and other airlines like JetBlue who are doing remarkably, well is management. Dynamic, profit-driven management. On that note, I don't think the question is whether we should have a national carrier, but whether the management has the knowledge, dynamism and, dare I say, passion to drive the company into success. It is a company just like every other, and with good management it can turn around. I would recommend that we not bind ourselves to a limited interpretation of 'national carrier'. We should move with the market, wherever it is and seek to grow.

I am, etc.,

MARC F RAMSAY

marcramsay@gmail.com

Mona, Kingston 6

Via Go-Jamaica