Air Jamaica announced today that 40 of the company’s total 220 pilot positions will be eliminated over the next two months as part of the company’s corporate restructuring program. This represents an 18% reduction in Air Jamaica’s total pilot workforce. The Jamaica Airline Pilots Association (JALPA) has been advised of the eliminations along with the staff of 23 pilots and 17 contract pilots.
Dr. Vincent Lawrence, Executive Chairman of Air Jamaica, says the airline needs fewer pilots as it is now operating a smaller number of aircrafts, fewer routes and have reduced the frequency of flights on other routes.
He says the exercise is fully in accordance with the existing JALPA labor agreement. All payments including severance packages will be paid to those affected in accordance with the law.
In January, the positions of nearly 200 Air Jamaica staff including 100 flight attendants were eliminated as the company began implementing a restructuring program to cut costs. The Air Jamaica Board of Directors are completing its assessment and restructuring planning and expects to recommend a new overall structure and strategy to the Government of Jamaica shortly.
