Gov’t Team to Discuss Air Transport Treaty in Washington

The Government is to send a team to Washington, next week, to seek to resolve the issue of the proposed designation of Caribbean Airlines as a carrier under the Jamaica/USA bilateral Air Transport Agreement.
Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, made the disclosure at Wednesday’s (May 12) Post Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
He said that this has resulted from the finalisation of the acquisition of Air Jamaica by Caribbean Airlines.
He also disclosed that Minister of Transport and Works, Hon. Mike Henry, has submitted to Cabinet a report on consultations with the US State Department, regarding the air transport agreement.
The report advised of the decision of the US Department of Transportation that the interim ownership and control structure between Air Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines was still under review, but that as an interim measure an extension of Air Jamaica’s operations in the US for 60 days was approved, while the review process was underway. The report also advised that the consultations with the Government of Canada are to be held in July.
Following extensive negotiations, Air Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines, on April 30, signed a number of agreements to cement a transition plan to allow the ‘Lovebird’ to operate as part of Caribbean Airlines.
The transition period is expected to last six to 12 months, after which Caribbean Airlines will fully operate a sustainable airlift from Jamaica. All of Air Jamaica’s financial responsibilities have been turned over to Caribbean Airlines since May 1.