As of April 12th Air Jamaica is no more :(

**Speedbird1** · 2010-03-05, 01:18 PM

Terrible news for spotters as well as travelers. I've been spotting Air Jamaica for decades. As I live near the CRI VOR, I always see them in the summer when the VOR 13LR approach is mostly used. I always could spot their brightly colored aircraft from the beaches along Coney Island. I will really miss them. I still see them whenever I visit JFK while waiting for the Q10 bus by T4. I can't ever remember hearing any negative things about this airline. This news ruins my day. It seems that every couple of months an airline is defunct. I still miss the BWIA L10's. I love the Caribbean logo as well. I'll miss the TV ads, too.

**Matt Molnar** · 2010-03-05, 08:30 PM

Your friend was right, Ryan, but it seems to be happening a week earlier. Looks like the planes will stay for awhile.

Press release:

AIR JAMAICA FLIGHTS CONTINUE UNDER CARIBBEAN AIRLINES

3/5/2010

MIAMI, FL – March 5, 2010 – A preliminary targeted transaction date of April 12, 2010 has been set by which the operations of Air Jamaica will begin the transition to Caribbean Airlines. This transaction date dovetails with the airline’s major schedule change that was previously announced. However, the transaction date could change as the details of the transition are finalized.

Seamless Operations
The following are important points to note as the changeover is made:
• The transition to Caribbean Airlines will be phased over a period of up to one year, in order to ensure that customers will continue to be provided with the best possible travel experience.
• Air Jamaica aircraft will continue to be utilized during the transition period.
• Current Air Jamaica pilots, flight crews and ground staff will operate the aircraft for the schedule already published.
• All customer services, including reservations, website and sales, will continue to operate in much the same way as today, for a period of time.

“We have enjoyed a tremendous relationship with our loyal customers in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, as well as throughout the Diaspora, and we are pleased to advise that our company is also committed to continuing these relationships, doing everything possible to earn your loyalty and trust,” stated Bruce Nobles, Air Jamaica’s President and CEO.

Schedule advantages
As of April 12, the airline offers a superior schedule between Jamaica and its core destinations – namely four daily flights from Fort Lauderdale, three daily flights from New York (JFK) and daily flights from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Toronto.

To book future flights, continue to call your travel agent or Air Jamaica Reservations at 1-800-523-5585 or visit the website at http://www.AirJamaica.com.

About Air Jamaica
Celebrating its 40th year as Jamaica’s national carrier, Air Jamaica offers the most nonstop flights between the U.S. and Jamaica. The airline serves 12 destinations with more than 160 weekly flights, including service between Jamaica and Toronto, New York (JFK), Chicago (O’Hare), Baltimore, Philadelphia, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Curacao and Nassau, as well as nonstop service between New York and Grenada. Voted “The Caribbean’s Leading Airline” for 12 consecutive years, Air Jamaica offers one of the industry’s most generous rewards programs, 7th Heaven Rewards, along with award-winning, free in-flight entertainment, the Island Stylee video and SkyWritings, the in-flight magazine. On Air Jamaica passengers experience the legendary Lovebird Hospitality and warm Caribbean smiles on every flight. For more information or to book travel, visit http://www.AirJamaica.com.

Contact:
Deborah Ehrman
Ruder Finn, Inc.
212-593-6445
[email protected]

**Mayi757** · 2010-03-06, 01:06 AM

I'm not surprised it finally happened. Years ago when BWIA was around and both Air Jamaica and them were struggling, there was talk of merging the two and forming a single Caribbean carrier to serve the English-speaking market and beyond. At that time it was thought the idea wouldn't fly because neither party wanted to sacrifice their own cultural identity. Reason for a single-airline idea was that the market wasn't big enough for two large Caribbean carriers.

Now it's definitely too crowded with US airlines flocking to Jamaica for a money-losing Jamaican airline to have any chance. I suspect if both BWIA and JM had been well-run there would enough market for both, and BWIA would still be around.

Hopefully for the sake of variety and competition history doesn't repeat itself and Caribbean Airlines falls into serious financial problems sometime down the road after this merger.

**JetBlueAirwaysFan** · 2010-03-07, 09:32 PM

Wow, and to remember that Air Jamaica is the only non-US airline I have ever flown in my life. Granted I was about four, but still, wow. We flew JFK-MBJ r/t on an Air Jamaica A300 I believe.

**SengaB** · 2010-03-09, 07:28 AM

I forced myself yesterday morning to get the A319 for AJM. Who knows how long it will be shootable but Its better to get it when it still coming in.

That type of tug really ruins the shot with those huge wheels.

Senga

**Mayi757** · 2010-03-09, 09:50 AM

The carts make the shot "come alive". Otherwise it's just a boring ugly little bus lol

NLovis · 2010-03-09, 11:42 PM

That type of tug is what you will mainly see around JFK. Thats what most companies use. Try again you got the boring bus there. really boring.

**mirrodie** · 2010-03-10, 12:15 AM

OK, many travesties within this thread.....

"travisty" = travesty

"nor have I attemped to since there busses) but do I make an acception now"
^they're^ ^exception^

I am NOTORIOUS for making lots of typos, but I am a grammar and spelling nut since they make it tough to read ;)

I agree, AJ leaving is truly a travesty! Spellman, if you are flying down there, be sure to take a lot of pics there!

Their fleet was brilliant looking. And Moose, I think the A321 is an ugly duckling but that is a great shot of it!

NLovis · 2010-03-10, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by mirrodie

OK, many travesties within this thread.....

"travisty" = travesty

"nor have I attemped to since there busses) but do I make an acception now"
^they're^ ^exception^

I am NOTORIOUS for making lots of typos, but I am a grammar and spelling nut since they make it tough to read ;)

I agree, AJ leaving is truly a travesty! Spellman, if you are flying down there, be sure to take a lot of pics there!

Their fleet was brilliant looking. And Moose, I think the A321 is an ugly duckling but that is a great shot of it!

Well my exception hasn't come up yet as I havetn been able to get close enough to one for any type of shot in awhile.

**SengaB** · 2010-03-10, 07:29 AM

Nlovis,
The A319 is usually a late night arrival with an early departure.
It might be kind of hard getting the plane without the tug unless one shoots it at JFK at night just after it arrives at the gate. They only have one A319 and its white.

Senga

NLovis · 2010-03-10, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by SengaB

Nlovis,
The A319 is usually a late night arrival with an early departure.
It might be kind of hard getting the plane without the tug unless one shoots it at JFK at night just after it arrives at the gate. They only have one A319 and its white.

Senga

I was talking about the color scheme senga

**moose135** · 2010-03-19, 08:19 PM

I'm out in NEPA this weekend and it reminded me of this billboard at AVP that I shot a couple of years back. I thought it was amusing since, to the best of my knowledge, Air Jamaica never served the airport. I haven't been past that way lately, so I don't know if it's still up or not.

**Mayi757** · 2010-03-20, 12:25 PM

Speaking of billboards, reminds me of an eye-catching one from around 2000, on I-95 close to FLL airport depicting a drawing of Air Jam's splendid A300 which read "Now with 8 daily departures from South Florida". Wow, how much things change. Now it's like 2, maybe 3 flights a day at the most from FLL, MIA is gone.

They just stopped Orlando two weeks ago :cry: