Ministry of Tourism

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Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Mr. John Lynch, has said that the performance of the national airline has improved over the last six months.

He told a meeting of United Kingdom-based Jamaicans at the High Commission in London recently, that despite continued financial losses, the airline is performing much better.

"Air Jamaica has been doing much better over the last six months. They are still losing a lot of money but by cutting their routes, rationalising, and flying more efficiently, they have cut cost. They are doing much better," Mr. Lynch told the meeting, adding that Air Jamaica continues to be an asset to the country.

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who also addressed the community meeting, stated that while the Government planned to retain significant interest in Air Jamaica, partnership is needed to keep the airline alive and reduce its burden on the budget.

"We are working now to see if we can get partnerships to share in the cost of operating Air Jamaica. We have had some discussions but I think that those discussions have not quite materialised, so I think Air Jamaica is back on the market. We are still seeking to find a partner. We are not interested in selling off Air Jamaica in full. Jamaica will always maintain a significant interest in Air Jamaica but we need partnerships to keep the airline alive," he said.

The Minister and Mr. Lynch were in the United Kingdom leading Jamaica's delegation at this year's World Travel Market.

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