Air Jamaica inaugurates service to Belize
If our next story has a familiar ring to it, it’s because two weeks ago we went through a very similar exercise. The airline in question was U.S. Air; today it’s Air Jamaica inaugurating virtually identical four-times-a-week service between the U.S. and Belize via its Montego Bay hub. But while for many people one airline is as good as the next, for Belizeans–almost a quarter century without an airline of our own–the island of Jamaica has always held a special fascination. And that kinship also appears to extend to its national carrier. Having made the trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier this month, on Wednesday, News 5’s Jacqueline Woods embarked for Montego Bay. It may be the last time any Belizean will have to fly through Miami to get there.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
It took over a year to finalize, but Air Jamaica has made it possible for Belizeans and visitors alike to fly directly for the first time to the Caribbean.
Allen Chastanet, V.P., Marketing and Sales, Air Jamaica
“Belize is part of CARICOM, and a lot of people in the CARICOM don’t know that. And at present, a lot of people who are from the CARICOM need to get a U.S. visa in order to go to another CARICOM country. So our flight is also going to be very much going after Belizeans looking to go to the other parts of the Caribbean, and also, members of CARICOM who are looking to come to Belize.”
And that’s just what we in the media had to do to make it to Jamaica for the first flight.
Jacqueline Woods
“Well, guys we really can’t complain for us here in the media, after all after arriving here in Miami, Air Jamaica went all the way out to give us first class treatment by sending us our limousine driver Billy to pick us up here at the airport.”
Jacqueline Woods
“You’re a Jamaican, you’ve been living in Miami for the past fourteen years, how do you feel about Air Jamaica’s inaugural flight to Belize?”
Billy Brown, Limo Driver
“I believe, Air Jamaica is doing the best around the Caribbean.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Making it easier for people to access Caribbean countries?”
Billy Brown, Limo Driver
“That’s correct.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Well thanks for the enjoyable ride Billy.”
Billy Brown, Limo Driver
“You’re always welcome when you come to Miami.”
The following morning, the Belize delegation, led by B.T.B. director, Tracy Taegar departed for the airport. The next stop…Montego Bay, the hub of Air Jamaica.
Allen Chastanet
“The U.S. carriers were already allowed to come in as often as they wanted to from as many states as they wanted to, and they were also able to go and fly through Jamaica to connect passengers to other Caribbean islands, Central American and Latin American points. We were being penalized because we were only limited to flying to twelve cities in the United States. And we were part of the CARICOM discussion and CARICOM has some issues, which I think it’s going to take a while for them to resolve. But meanwhile, we want to grow, so it was very prudent this time for Jamaica just to go ahead.”
At Mobay’s Sangster International Airport there was a ceremony before the first flight departed for Belize. Taegar says she is optimistic about the new service.
Tracy Taegar, Director, B.T.B.
“It helps to bring us a little closer to the Caribbean, and certainly some of our markets in the north coast. There’s a connection to Mobay, Mobay direct to Belize and I think that will open up this eastern seaboard and really helps us in terms of regional traffic. There’s a big programme right now with the C.T.O. and inter-regional Caribbean travel, and we haven’t been able to benefit from that because we don’t have the air connections. So I think that’s going to open up a new market for us.”
But no one could have been more happy about the new service than the first passengers themselves.
Passenger #1
“I’ve been waiting for it for a long time because I go there on business and right now I have to go to Miami, wait, get on another plane, so I’ve really been waiting for this for a very long time.”
Passenger #2
“Well I feel good because I used to fly with Air Jamaica and I’ve gone to Belize several times, I lived there and I’m going back there to live now, so it’s a good time to put two together.”
Passenger #3
“Well, I think it’s exciting. As a Belizean a connection to Jamaica is obviously something I’d be very excited about.”
Passenger #4
“It’s my first going there. I’m with my two cousins and I’m going to look for my uncle who lives there and it will allow me an opportunity to go there more often.”
Passenger #5
“I’m very excited about it, being a Belizean and having worked for Air Jamaica for nineteen years; this is finally like a dream come true for me. But not only that, I think it’s good for the company because the tourism market in Belize has grown tremendously and I think it will look.”
Allen Chastanet, Vice President of marketing and sales for Air Jamaica, says recent events have made people uneasy about flying but says the airline is doing what it can to help bring back the joys of air travel.
Allen Chastanet
“A lot of people travel has become more of a burden than it is a joy, and that’s one thing that Air Jamaica is trying to do, to bring the glamour back to flying.”
Jacqueline Woods
“That’s what we noticed on our way over here from Miami.”
Allen Chastanet
“I’m glad. Complementary champagne, complementary beer, complementary wine, two hot meals you can choose from. We really spend a lot of time training our staff in terms of being friendly, and we’re very proud about being Caribbean.”
One proud Caribbean man was Captain Lascelle Samms. Samms, who has been with the airline for twenty years, had the honour of piloting the first flight.
Captain Lascelle Samms, Air Jamaica
“It’s a flight that was there on my block and I’m here to do the flight, so I’m quite pleased.”
It took only one hour and thirty-five minutes for the aircraft to touch down in Belize. Once safely on the ground, as the plane taxied to the apron it was blessed with water sprayed by the P.G.I.A.’s fire fighters. At the airport, there was another ceremony for the arrival of the inaugural flight…and various festivities will be held throughout the weekend. Air Jamaica will fly to Belize on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
In an area of air travel that you won’t find in any tourist board projections, one of the passengers on today’s inaugural flight from Belize City to Montego bay was a Jamaican being deported back to his homeland following conviction on a charge of illegal entry.
