Air Jamaica is moving to fill the void created by British Airways' planned reduction of Jamaican services with an increase in flights to London and is discussing the acquisition of more Airbus A340s.
The airline will start to double frequencies to the UK later this year from six a week to up to twelve by next March, at which time BA will have ceased flights to Montego Bay. Air Jamaica aims to operate up to ten of the services to Heathrow from its Montego Bay hub, while two are likely to operate to Manchester.
The Jamaican flag carrier operates one A340-300, and is discussing further leases with various sources. At least ten additional Airbus widebodies are planned to meet growth requirements over the next five years.
The airline had been finalising a deal with International Lease Finance (ILFC) for a second A340-300, but is now understood to be talking to Airbus Leasing. It is also thought to be discussing with Boeing the lease of some of the five ex-Singapore Airlines A340s that are being taken in trade.
Meanwhile, Air Jamaica is boosting its US presence, with new services to Denver, Detroit and Tampa following the recent introduction of flights to Washington Dulles and Houston. Further European expansion is planned, with direct flights to Dublin and Oslo the prime candidates.
Source: Flight International
