The decision by Caribbean Airlines to resume Air Jamaica flights to London has come as good news for the Jamaica Diaspora chapter and travellers in the UK.
The Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Airlines announced, on Friday, that it will resume flights to London Heathrow International Airport, as of July.
Diaspora Advisory Board member, Celia Grandison-Markey, told RJR News that the long-awaited development is an excellent move.
She says Air Jamaica should never have stopped flying to London, and Jamaicans and tourists should enjoy the service of the airline, which will help to make brand Jamaica more prominent in Britain.
Travellers to Jamaica from various parts of the UK were disgruntled when Air Jamaica vacated its slot at Heathrow Airport, having sold it to Virgin Airlines, in May 2007.
The landing slot is now being used by Virgin Airlines to fly to Barbados, leaving travellers to Jamaica with no alternative but to fly from Gatwick with British Airways or Virgin Airlines.
A travel agent in England says the resumption of Air Jamaica flights out of London Heathrow should be good business.
Newlook Travel Agent Winston Pickersgill said the development is great as people will have more choice.
He told RJR News that many travellers had a problem going to Gatwick and Jamaicans like their own national airline.
Mr. Pickersgill said if Air Jamaica gets to London on time with excellent service there is no problem getting support from travellers, as many have been unable to get flights to Jamaica.
He added that if Air Jamaica continues the two luggage allowance then the prospects are even better.
Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett has said that Air Jamaica will play a critical role in the country’s quest to attract five million stopover visitors for earnings of up to US$5 billion.
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