Air Jamaica quits Antigua
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| 'Butch' Stewart |
Harold Lovell, Minister of
Tourism. Photo: Norman
"Gus" Thomas |
by Norman "Gus" Thomas
Caribbean Net News Special Regional Correspondent
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: The "Champagne Flights"
of Air Jamaica come to an end as of Monday, January 10, 2004 when the airline
makes its last flight out of the popular "gateway to the Caribbean", Antigua.
According to the Chairman of Air Jamaica,
Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, the airline first began its service to Antigua back on
June 20, 2002. Caribbean Net News also
spoke with the airline's Kingston-based public relations office who confirmed
that their service to Antigua and other areas will be terminated as the airline
is losing money and stressed that the move follows a decision to begin a
restructuring programme designed to restore the airline's viability while
cutting costs. The termination to the
“Champagne Flights” to Antigua's V.C. Bird International Airport will have a
dampening effect on the country's tourism industry. In addressing a luncheon
hosted by the Antigua Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country's Minister
with responsibility for tourism, Harold Lovell, said that he had spoken with Mr.
Stewart in an attempt to keep Air Jamaica flying to Antigua; however, Stewart
was not persuaded. Antigua and Barbuda is
experiencing the second closure of the airline's operations to this destination;
meanwhile, the airline's officials are hopeful that they would be able to resume
their service to Antigua in the not too distant future.
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