Barbados Consul-General Co-Hosts Air Jamaica Meeting in NY

NEW YORK (June 4, 2004) - Barbados Consul-General in New York, Jessica Odle, believes Air Jamaica, the island's designated flag carrier to the United States, is vitally important to the development of the nation.

Odle, whose consulate recently teamed with the airline and Barbadian organizations in the Diaspora for a community debriefing, described the meeting as "enlightening and beneficial" for the Barbadian community organization leaders, the staff of the Consulate, the Barbados Tourism Authority and the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation.

Air Jamaica’s Senior Vice President of Industry Affairs, William Rodgers, thanked the Barbadian and wider Caribbean community for continuing to support the airline year after year. "Our relationship with Barbadians and other Caribbean nationals has grown from strength to strength. We value these links and intend to strengthen them through closer collaboration into the future.”

"The various programs offered by the airline are tremendously important for Barbados as a tourist destination," said Consul-General Odle, who gave special mention to the airline's frequent flyer program and cargo package service, which is particularly useful for the Barbadian community, who frequently send packages to friends and relatives at home.

"Of particular note is the possibility for the business traveler to do a same day turnaround, thus improving business linkages," said the diplomat, who noted that Air Jamaica and its New York staff exemplify true Caribbean spirit.

This week, Air Jamaica teamed with the Caribbean Tourism Organization to stage two Caribbean town hall meetings on travel and tourism issues, featuring several visiting Caribbean Ministers of Tourism.

The meetings form part of Caribbean Week in New York activities and ran concurrently in Brooklyn and the Bronx on Thursday, June 3, 2004.

With more than 30 years of service and the most modern fleet servicing the Caribbean, Air Jamaica offers over 380 direct flights a week from 12 US gateways, plus Toronto and from London and Manchester in England to 14 Caribbean destinations. The airline’s code share agreement with Delta Air Lines and joint fare arrangements and compatible schedules with other U.S. carriers extend its reach to over 150 cities within the continental U.S.