Air Jamaica Sold
Looks like the former BWIA management is doing to the Air Jamaica pilot body what they did to the BWIA pilots. Time to find a home elsewhere.
More than half the BW pilots were terminated when Caribbean Airlines was formed, irregardless of seniority or fleet qualification. I would think the Air Jamaica pilot body will be hurt even worse.
The CEO of Caribbean is a scab who worked his way into union leadership then into management. Get your CV ready as the management team has no morals.
More than half the BW pilots were terminated when Caribbean Airlines was formed, irregardless of seniority or fleet qualification. I would think the Air Jamaica pilot body will be hurt even worse.
The CEO of Caribbean is a scab who worked his way into union leadership then into management. Get your CV ready as the management team has no morals.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That would be difficult to leave your home in the tropical caribbean. On the positive side, there are probably many Airbus operators in the world who would actively court the AJ pilots. Quite a few in the Middle East come to mind.
Best of luck to everyone involved.
Best of luck to everyone involved.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Isle of Man
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Todays Observer headline....
Air J cleared for take-off. Lovebird gets 60-day waiver (granted by US Dept. of Transport) to fly to US when pact with Caribbean Airlines becomes effective. The transitional services agreement comes into effect April 30th. AJ's President & CEO Bruce Nobles assures pax that ops will continue as normal as the airline prepares for its transition to Caribbean Airlines. This could take upto 12 months.
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: "como todo buen piloto... mujeriego y borracho"
Posts: 2,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looks like the deal has been consumated:
DATE:29/04/10
SOURCE:Air Transport Intelligence news
Caribbean completes takeover of Air Jamaica
By Sandra Arnoult
Caribbean Airlines has taken over financially beleaguered Air Jamaica after months of negotiations between the two island carriers.
"We proposed that Caribbean Airlines was a natural ally and the best choice to serve the needs of the Jamaican population," Caribbean Airlines CEO Ian Brunton says.
A final agreement between the two carriers was reached April 28, following a letter of intent that was signed in January. One of the stated goals was to produce a single regional carrier in the Caribbean.
Under terms of the deal, the government of Jamaica will assume responsibility for closure costs related to Air Jamaica, which are estimated at more than $800 million.
Caribbean will take over the carrier's frequent flyer programme and will continue to honor Air Jamaica tickets. The government of Jamaica will own 16% of Caribbean Airlines.
Air Jamaica's initial operations will continue existing routes. From Montego Bay, flights will continue between New York-JFK, Baltimore-Washington, Philadelphia and Fort Lauderdale. From Kingston, the airline will continue operating to New York-JFK, Toronto and Fort Lauderdale.
The governments of Trinidad and Tobago will contribute $49.2 million to Caribbean Airlines to use as working capital to facilitate the merger. Some 900 Air Jamaica employs will be retained to manage eight routes currently operated by the Kingston-based carrier.
Air Jamaica chairman, Dennis Lalor, says the final offer was improved from Caribbean's initial bid and superior to a rival bid by Indigo Partners.
"We believe this transaction creates a unique, historic opportunity to create a true Caribbean air carrier," Lalor says, "leveraging the expertise and strengths built up by Air Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines to be able to compete in a fierce global market environment."
SOURCE:Air Transport Intelligence news
Caribbean completes takeover of Air Jamaica
By Sandra Arnoult
Caribbean Airlines has taken over financially beleaguered Air Jamaica after months of negotiations between the two island carriers.
"We proposed that Caribbean Airlines was a natural ally and the best choice to serve the needs of the Jamaican population," Caribbean Airlines CEO Ian Brunton says.
A final agreement between the two carriers was reached April 28, following a letter of intent that was signed in January. One of the stated goals was to produce a single regional carrier in the Caribbean.
Under terms of the deal, the government of Jamaica will assume responsibility for closure costs related to Air Jamaica, which are estimated at more than $800 million.
Caribbean will take over the carrier's frequent flyer programme and will continue to honor Air Jamaica tickets. The government of Jamaica will own 16% of Caribbean Airlines.
Air Jamaica's initial operations will continue existing routes. From Montego Bay, flights will continue between New York-JFK, Baltimore-Washington, Philadelphia and Fort Lauderdale. From Kingston, the airline will continue operating to New York-JFK, Toronto and Fort Lauderdale.
The governments of Trinidad and Tobago will contribute $49.2 million to Caribbean Airlines to use as working capital to facilitate the merger. Some 900 Air Jamaica employs will be retained to manage eight routes currently operated by the Kingston-based carrier.
Air Jamaica chairman, Dennis Lalor, says the final offer was improved from Caribbean's initial bid and superior to a rival bid by Indigo Partners.
"We believe this transaction creates a unique, historic opportunity to create a true Caribbean air carrier," Lalor says, "leveraging the expertise and strengths built up by Air Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines to be able to compete in a fierce global market environment."
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: "como todo buen piloto... mujeriego y borracho"
Posts: 2,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A tragedy following Air Jamaica's demise
Former JALPA president succumbs to heart attack
BY INGRID BROWN Senior staff reporter [email protected]
Thursday, May 06, 2010
FORMER Air Jamaica pilot and past president of the Jamaican Airline Pilots' Association (JALPA) Captain Russell Capleton died of a heart attack Tuesday night, just four days after his position was made redundant from the company he served for the last 30 years.
Capleton, 56, was rushed to the Andrews Memorial Hospital in St Andrew where he died, surrounded by his family.
Capleton who became the face and voice of the association, was integral in the Air Jamaica Staff Acquisition Group to acquire the airline, popularly called the 'Lovebird', which was ultimately divested to the Trinidad & Tobago-based Caribbean Airlines.
Ina joint statement yesterday, Air Jamaica chairman Dennis Lalor, and its president, Bruce Nobles, expressed "sincere regret" at Capleton's sudden passing.
"'Russ', as he was known by many of his acquaintances, was a good pilot, a strong leader and a true gentleman. He will truly be missed and we extend to his widow and his entire family our heartfelt condolences," they said.
Meanwhile, Captain Maria Ziadie Haddad, executive secretary of JALPA and Capleton's work colleague for over 30 years, said that his the death came as a shock.
"We are deeply saddened, very shocked and surprised at the sudden and untimely passing of Captain Capleton," she told the Observer.
According to Ziadie Haddad, the recent stress of Air Jamaica's transition process could have attributed to his sudden demise.
"We are likely to think that the stress asociated with the changeover and separation from Air Jamaica and all these sudden changes and disappointment at what happened, left him heartbroken," she said.
She said that he also received some amount of run around when he went to collect his redundancy payment on Friday. "When he went for his redundancy payment he was told that it was not at that location and he had to go elsewhere and he even had to go back downtown (Kingston) on Monday and all that stress adds up on people after awhile," she said.
According to Ziadie Haddad, herself and Capleton as well as several other union delegates were not offered employment with the new company.
"He was very visible in the media as one who spoke out and spoke the truth and some of us believe that persons like him were sidelined and removed from the rehiring process," she told the Observer.
She said that Capleton was looking forward to continuing to serve the association as its spokesperson to the media as JALPA pressed forward in its bid to acquire a new airline.
In fact, she said, a meeting was scheduled to be held today with a number of JALPA executives to discuss the way forward for the association.
"Yesterday (Tuesday), I sent him some communication and he replied and arranged to speak with me tomorrow (Thursday) so I was so shocked when I heard early this morning that he passed on," she said solemnly.
Capleton who had been employed by Air Jamaica since January 28, 1980 captained his last flight last Thursday.
Ziadie Haddad described him as a charming, well spoken and witty character, who had a vast grasp of the English language.
"We had nicknames for him like Lord Russell because he just had that charm about him, and he definitely was a son of the soil of Jamaica trying to do the best for the national carrier and the entire staff," she said.
The Air Jamaica ground staff in Montego Bay also expressed deep sadness at Capleton's passing, as they recognised the care he had for the welfare of those workers who would be affected by the divestment process.
"The ground staff are fully cognisant of his deep care, for in the latter part of last year he asked, "what are the staff in Montego Bay going to do?... Do you know if they have contingency plans or what is their thinking at this time?" The answer was, "No, they are wholly depending on JALPA to acquire Air Jamaica as there are no jobs out there and all they know is Air Jamaica.
"This sacrifice of self by working in thought and action, coming off flights to have late meetings and device plans in a bid to acquire Air Jamaica meant that Captain Russell Capleton gave his all and ultimately paid with his life," according to Sandra Christie, who issued the statement on behalf of the ground staff.
Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller also expressed deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Capleton.
"I remember the strident and courageous manner with which Captain Capleton led the charge to find an alternative to the divestment and ultimate closure of Jamaica's 'Lovebird', our national carrier," Simpson Miller said.
She said that Capleton's untimely passing had brought an abrupt end to a life of national service and commitment to Jamaica's development through his chosen field.
"The sadness of his passing so soon after the closure of the airline is particularly poignant," she said.
BY INGRID BROWN Senior staff reporter [email protected]
Thursday, May 06, 2010
FORMER Air Jamaica pilot and past president of the Jamaican Airline Pilots' Association (JALPA) Captain Russell Capleton died of a heart attack Tuesday night, just four days after his position was made redundant from the company he served for the last 30 years.
Capleton, 56, was rushed to the Andrews Memorial Hospital in St Andrew where he died, surrounded by his family.
Capleton who became the face and voice of the association, was integral in the Air Jamaica Staff Acquisition Group to acquire the airline, popularly called the 'Lovebird', which was ultimately divested to the Trinidad & Tobago-based Caribbean Airlines.
Ina joint statement yesterday, Air Jamaica chairman Dennis Lalor, and its president, Bruce Nobles, expressed "sincere regret" at Capleton's sudden passing.
"'Russ', as he was known by many of his acquaintances, was a good pilot, a strong leader and a true gentleman. He will truly be missed and we extend to his widow and his entire family our heartfelt condolences," they said.
Meanwhile, Captain Maria Ziadie Haddad, executive secretary of JALPA and Capleton's work colleague for over 30 years, said that his the death came as a shock.
"We are deeply saddened, very shocked and surprised at the sudden and untimely passing of Captain Capleton," she told the Observer.
According to Ziadie Haddad, the recent stress of Air Jamaica's transition process could have attributed to his sudden demise.
"We are likely to think that the stress asociated with the changeover and separation from Air Jamaica and all these sudden changes and disappointment at what happened, left him heartbroken," she said.
She said that he also received some amount of run around when he went to collect his redundancy payment on Friday. "When he went for his redundancy payment he was told that it was not at that location and he had to go elsewhere and he even had to go back downtown (Kingston) on Monday and all that stress adds up on people after awhile," she said.
According to Ziadie Haddad, herself and Capleton as well as several other union delegates were not offered employment with the new company.
"He was very visible in the media as one who spoke out and spoke the truth and some of us believe that persons like him were sidelined and removed from the rehiring process," she told the Observer.
She said that Capleton was looking forward to continuing to serve the association as its spokesperson to the media as JALPA pressed forward in its bid to acquire a new airline.
In fact, she said, a meeting was scheduled to be held today with a number of JALPA executives to discuss the way forward for the association.
"Yesterday (Tuesday), I sent him some communication and he replied and arranged to speak with me tomorrow (Thursday) so I was so shocked when I heard early this morning that he passed on," she said solemnly.
Capleton who had been employed by Air Jamaica since January 28, 1980 captained his last flight last Thursday.
Ziadie Haddad described him as a charming, well spoken and witty character, who had a vast grasp of the English language.
"We had nicknames for him like Lord Russell because he just had that charm about him, and he definitely was a son of the soil of Jamaica trying to do the best for the national carrier and the entire staff," she said.
The Air Jamaica ground staff in Montego Bay also expressed deep sadness at Capleton's passing, as they recognised the care he had for the welfare of those workers who would be affected by the divestment process.
"The ground staff are fully cognisant of his deep care, for in the latter part of last year he asked, "what are the staff in Montego Bay going to do?... Do you know if they have contingency plans or what is their thinking at this time?" The answer was, "No, they are wholly depending on JALPA to acquire Air Jamaica as there are no jobs out there and all they know is Air Jamaica.
"This sacrifice of self by working in thought and action, coming off flights to have late meetings and device plans in a bid to acquire Air Jamaica meant that Captain Russell Capleton gave his all and ultimately paid with his life," according to Sandra Christie, who issued the statement on behalf of the ground staff.
Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller also expressed deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Capleton.
"I remember the strident and courageous manner with which Captain Capleton led the charge to find an alternative to the divestment and ultimate closure of Jamaica's 'Lovebird', our national carrier," Simpson Miller said.
She said that Capleton's untimely passing had brought an abrupt end to a life of national service and commitment to Jamaica's development through his chosen field.
"The sadness of his passing so soon after the closure of the airline is particularly poignant," she said.
Condolences to the family and friends of Captain Capleton.
Whatever happens,.. happens!
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: 19' N, 82' W
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Condolences to the Family and Colleagues
What a tragic end to a career and life in service to others!
Altough Captain R. Capleton will probably never be listed as a victim of the demise of Air Jamaica as we knew it, it is most likely that the accumulated stress and emotion of the events pushed his heart over the edge.
I trust that I can speak for my colleagues at CAPA (Cayman) in expressing our condolences and regrets of his untimely passing to Capt. Capleton's family, colleagues & friends.
May he be soaring in smooth and peaceful skies hereafter!
fluf
Altough Captain R. Capleton will probably never be listed as a victim of the demise of Air Jamaica as we knew it, it is most likely that the accumulated stress and emotion of the events pushed his heart over the edge.
I trust that I can speak for my colleagues at CAPA (Cayman) in expressing our condolences and regrets of his untimely passing to Capt. Capleton's family, colleagues & friends.
May he be soaring in smooth and peaceful skies hereafter!
fluf
