CAL-Air Jamaica alliance launched; CAL has big development plans

Jamaican PM Bruce Golding greets Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner at the Pegasus hotel in Kingston for the formal launch of the CAL-Air Jamaica agreement

The alliance between Caribbean Airlines (CAL) and Air Jamaica was formally launched in Kingston Friday with prime minister Bruce Golding and CAL's line minister, Jack Warner present for the historic event.

Jamaica PM Bruce Golding with CAL Chairman George Nicholas at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston

CAL Chairman George Nicholas III spoke with the Trinidad Express about the deal, saying that CAL sees tremendous value in the Air Jamaica brand.

"We believe there is a lot of equity in the name Air Jamaica, and hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent marketing it globally, and we are of the view that there is a return on that effort. 

"We have a clear plan what we want to do with the airline. Already, we have acquired new Boeing 737-800s for it," Nicholas told the paper.

He also said Caribbean Airlines is pursuing a relationship with Star Alliance in an effort to support Jamaican hoteliers, adding that it is "vitally important" for Caribbean Airlines becomes an option for travel agencies and wholesalers who are non-Virgin and British Airways aligned.

The plan is to use Air Jamaica as the tourist airline for the Caribbean, he said.

"Air Jamaica can go where Caribbean Airlines cannot go. Air Jamaica has already developed Atlanta, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, London, Los Angeles and Houston. 

"These are places that would be brand new to Caribbean Airlines. We want Air Jamaica to be the airline for non-aligned hoteliers," Nicholas told the Express.

"We have just purchased nine ATRs which will have in-flight entertainment systems. It is not just British Airways and Virgin who can treat a customer well. We will raise the customer service bar and we will be reintroducing champagne flights," said Nicholas.