A 40 year era is over. It was was announced Friday that Air Jamaica will become part of regional carrier, Caribbean Airlines. According to the Jamaican Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding, “We have to get our priorities right. We have to eliminate our fiscal deficit and reduce our borrowing, so that interest rates can come down and the economy can be given a chance to achieve real growth. We have to be able to devote more of our available resources to reducing crime, improving education, strengthening healthcare delivery and providing better infrastructure. We cannot do these things if we have to absorb such huge losses from state-owned enterprises like Air Jamaica. The Government has had to take the regrettable but inevitable decision that it could no longer provide the financial support required to keep Air Jamaica flying.”

The Prime Minister, the Hon Bruce Golding

Golding continues, “We have been fortunate in that we have been able to transfer the majority ownership to a regional carrier, Caribbean Airlines, which will operate the routes that are of the greatest importance to Jamaican travelers, the Diaspora and tourist visitors making connections to Jamaica. The government of Jamaica will have minority ownership in all of Caribbean Airlines, not just the Jamaican operations, but will not be required to absorb any losses or provide any capital.”

So although the name will be no more, fortunately travelers to and from the island will still have great access to their favorite Jamaican destinations through Caribbean Airlines as well as the many other carriers who service the two major airports of Jamaica, so this change shouldn’t have a negative impact on the tourism and real estate industry.