NEW YORK – Air Jamaica, the Caribbean’s largest carrier, says it welcomes the new head-to-head competition American Airlines will offer this Fall on the route between New York and St. Lucia.
“When the tide rises all boats in the basin rise,” opined George deMercado, Air Jamaica’s Vice President of Sales, who said the new flights will help boost tourism to the island which should in turn help his airline.
“The way I look at it is everybody is going to benefit from whatever is done in the marketplace to promote St. Lucia,” said deMercado, who predicted that after a bumper summer season for its Eastern Caribbean flights, satisfactory load factors will be maintained throughout the Fall and into the peak Winter season.
From left: Air Jamaica’s Campbell Rudder, Lorine Charles St-Jules of the St. Lucia Tourist Board, George deMercado of Air Jamaica and St. Lucia’s Director of Tourism Maria Fowell.
“There is sufficient business for all of us and the important thing is for St. Lucia to come out ahead at the end of the day,” he added, while pointing out that Air Jamaica not only has a loyal following but will still be “first on the beach, last off,” providing a more convenient thrice weekly schedule giving passengers valuable leisure and business time on the island.
DeMercado said he was pleased with the new direction St. Lucia has taken to position its tourism industry under the leadership of Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Senator Allen Chastanet. “Not only will Senator Chastanet’s appointment help St. Lucia and Air Jamaica, it is going to help the Caribbean as a whole because his enthusiasm for what he does is already starting to spread throughout the region and people are now paying attention – you can thank him directly for that.”
Senator Allen Chastanet proud of Air Jamaica
Senator Chastanet, who is the chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, said St. Lucia is very proud of Air Jamaica for the support the airline has given the destination. “Please be assured of our continued support on a continued basis,” Chastanet told deMercado at a reception in New York.
