Cheap Flights on Air Jamaica. Book online Air Jamaica fares.
Air Jamaica Travel/Flight Information
Cheap Flights on Air Jamaica. Book online Air Jamaica fares.
Air Jamaica connects London Heathrow with a range of destinations in the Caribbean and the US via its base in Kingston, Jamaica, including flights to Miami, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Toronto and Los Angeles.
The first Jamaica-based international airline, Air Jamaica will celebrate its 40th anniversary as the national flag carrier of the Caribbean island this year.
Air Jamaica started offering flights in 1966, owned by the government of Jamaica, BWIA and BOAC (now British Airways). But it was not until1969 that Air Jamaica established as an airline in its own right, with the Jamaican government as its majority shareholder.
The airline grew rapidly during the 1970s, adding more US destinations to its flight schedule and selling itself as "the little piece of Jamaica that flies".
From 1973 onwards, the Caribbean carrier began operating flights from Kingston to London. These started out as charter operations but it soon evolved into a regular service as demand for the route was high.
In 1994, the Jamaican government took the decision to privatise the airline and the Air Jamaica Acquisition Group (Ajag) was formed by investors who took a majority stake in the airline.
Under private ownership, Air Jamaica continued to expand its operations adding extra flights and a second hub in Montego Bay to complement its base in Kingston.
In 2004, following the post September 11th turbulence affecting the airline industry, the decision was made to take the airline back under public ownership.
This has not stopped Air Jamaica from growing and the airline continues to go from strength to strength, as a raft of recent awards shows.
Today, Air Jamaica's distinctive fleet of rainbow-coloured aircraft is one of the most modern in the Western Hemisphere. It includes two Airbus A-340s, six A-321s and seven A-320s, with refurbished interiors.
The A-340, dubbed the Atlantic limousine, offers non-stop flights between Jamaica and London with first-class seats featuring full sleeperette design for a comfortable night's sleep.
Air Jamaica says that its main focus over the years has been excellent customer service, with a well-trained flight crew and highly experienced pilots ensuring that the journey is safe and enjoyable, on top of offering great fares. Its flights also have an impeccable safety record.
Among its initiatives aimed at making travelling easier and simpler for its passengers, Air Jamaica offers an express check-in service for passengers with hand luggage only, which allows more time browsing the duty free shops before flights.
Hotel check-in is also offered at some of the larger hotels in Jamaica's main resorts of Montego Bay, Negril and Ocho Rios so that luggage check-in, collecting boarding passes, sorting out seat assignments and paying departure tax can all be done before passengers have even left the hotel.
Such approaches to its business have led to Air Jamaica enjoying success in the aviation industry recently. In December 2007, the carrier was named the best airline in the Caribbean at the World Travel Awards, which was voted on by over 160,000 travel professionals.
Paul Pennicook, Air Jamaica's senior vice president of marketing, said that the accolade was an acknowledgement of its efforts to provide the best possible service to its customers.
"Every day we find ways to fine-tune and improve the product so that we can offer our customers the best value for their money," added Air Jamaica Airlines chairman OK Melhado.
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However, Air Jamaica offers more than just affordable flights and good customer service. It has been named Modern Bride magazine's Best Honeymoon Airline for three years in a row. It also won the Five Star Diamond Award for five years straight, which places it among the top airlines in the world.
A major contributor to the Jamaican economy, the airline takes more passengers on its flights annually to and from the island than any other carrier and holds more than half of the market share.
In 2007, Air Jamaica enjoyed a bumper summer season, with more than 200,000 passengers using its service in July, representing a nine per cent increase on July 2006.
Mr Pennicook said the results were due "in large measure to our loyal customers and frequent flyers who always continue to support the airline".
He added: "We wish to thank them for their support and assure them we are working to continuously enhance the airline's unparalleled lovebird hospitality."
Air Jamaica says that it wants the holiday experience of its passengers to begin before the flight has even left the ground and aims to offer warm Caribbean hospitality.
Customers are welcomed aboard with the airline's signature cocktail, the Rum Bamboozle, giving them a taste of the Caribbean before they've even taken off.
Over the course of its 40-year history, Air Jamaica has changed and evolved, but its emphasis on top quality service with a warm, welcoming smile means there is one thing about this airline that has not changed - it is still "the little bit of Jamaica that flies".
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Cheap Flights on Air Jamaica. Book online Air Jamaica fares.
Last updated: 21st August 2008
