PORT-OF-SPAIN – The Travel Agents Association (TAA) believes the deal between Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) and Air Jamaica Ltd is not a good one, despite a statement to the contrary by Finance Minister Winston Dookeran. Dookeran made his remarks while addressing the Greater Tunapuna Chamber at a business forum Wednesday last week at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya.
Wayne Rodriguez, president of TAA, said the Air Jamaica routes sold to CAL were not profitable because “the routes are high-risk” due to swift competition on the routes Air Jamaica was losing money on. Rodriguez added that competition would further increase with Jamaica’s open skies agreement, which would allow any carrier to fly to Jamaica. With the added competition, the routes would eventually become unprofitable, he said. “I want the report and the findings of the committee to be made public. The Air Jamaica routes are unprofitable,” Rodriguez said. (Trinidad Guardian)
