Miramar, Florida-based Spirit Airlines has purchased ailing Air Jamaica, according to the Jamaica Observer.
Air Jamaica Airbus A320. (Photo by Tom Alfano)
Air Jamaica has been been experiencing financial difficulties for the past five years, with the Jamaican government re-taking ownership of the airline at the end of 2004. Since then, they have seen dramatic reduction in fleet size and removal of all of their widebody aircraft from service.
Privately-owned Spirit Airlines operates twenty eight Airbus A320-family aircraft to destinations in the US, the Caribbean and South America, giving them expanded fleet commonality and also strengthening their Caribbean foothold. Losing in the bidding was Caribbean Airlines, allegedly due to their Trinidadian ownership and Air Jamaica’s desire to privatize.
Air Jamaica was created in 1968 and has been based in Kingston, Jamaica.
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