Caribbean Airlines' takeover of Air Jamaica has prompted the USA to launch open skies talks with Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean finalised its deal to buy Air Jamaica on 28 April, and the respective governments are contributing $49.2 million to Caribbean to use as working capital for the merger.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs at the US Department of State John Byerly said during the Phoenix International Aviation Symposium that open skies talks between the USA and Trinidad and Tobago were launched this week. Byerly says the merger triggered the new talks with Trinidad and Tobago since no open skies agreement exists among the countries. The USA does have an open skies pact with Jamaica .
Under the terms of the purchase agreement the government of Jamaica has agreed to take responsibility for closure costs related to Air Jamaica, which are estimated to be more than $800 million.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
