AIR JAMAICA PLANS FOR EXPANSION WITH OPEN SKIES

AIR JAMAICA PLANS FOR EXPANSION WITH OPEN SKIES    With the recent signing of the U.S.-Jamaica open skies agreement, executives for Air Jamaica said they look forward to expanding the carrier’s regional coverage.
   “Since privatization in 1994, we have pursued a steady stream of expansion and made it our mission to open up more and more of the Caribbean to North America,” said Bruce Nobles, president and chief operating officer for Air Jamaica. “Under the new open skies agreement we are looking forward to the new possibilities in expanding our services in more gateways cities and markets across the U.S.”
   Under the previous agreement, Air Jamaica was permitted to have just 14 gateways in the United States. Under the open skies agreement, signed on Oct. 29, Air Jamaica would the right to expand without limitations, which should increase opportunities for the airline’s belly cargo services.
   The United States and Jamaica had an existing all-cargo open skies agreement since October 2000. The new agreement, which includes passenger services, will have a three-year phase-in period during which U.S. airlines and charter operations will not be able to combine passengers originating in different countries on the same aircraft.