CAL to use 3 ATR planes for Air Jamaica domestic routes

Finance Minister Winston Dookeran told the House of Representatives Friday state-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL) will be using three of its new ATR turboprop aircraft for the Air Jamaica service between Kingston and Montego Bay.

Dookeran made the statement in response to a question for oral answer from the opposition.

CAL is buying nine aircraft from the French manufacturer for US$200 million. Delivery of the planes will begin in October 2011.

The Finance Minister said one of the aircraft will be for the Eastern Caribbean service and the other five will operate on the Trinidad to Tobago service.
 
Dookeran said the decision to expand CAL service was made in September 2010 on the recommendation of the line minister. There was no board in place at the time. 

Dookeran said the cabinet approved the recommendation on December 1, 2010.

The minister also told the House that that the fuel hedge for CAL that was approved in April 2010 by the previous government has been applied to Air Jamaica under the terms of the merge agreement between the two airlines.