Air Jamaica Executive Returns from Retirement

Caribbean Connection

NEW YORK (November 8, 2007)-Long-serving Jamaican airline executive William Rodgers is emerging from retirement to take over the reins of his beloved Air Jamaica.

The Jamaican press reports that Rodgers has been appointed acting president and chief executive officer of Air Jamaica, following the departure of President and CEO Michael Conway, the American who left the airline shortly after the Jamaica Labour Party's general election victory over the People's National Party government.

Conway's contract with the airline specifically offered the option to resign his position if the Government of Jamaica, and therefore, the ownership of Air Jamaica, changed within his contract period.

Rodgers, a former senior vice president for industry affairs with a wealth of industry experience, has chalked up more than three decades of service with Air Jamaica and will work with the new Shirley Williams-led board.

Meanwhile, in preparation for the busy holiday season ahead, which typically gets underway on December 15, Air Jamaica announced additional flights from December 15, 2007, through January 8, 2008.

The airline has added more than 50 additional flights between New York's JFK Airport and Jamaica; and increased its departures from JFK to Grenada to six weekly nonstop flights (every day except Wednesday), up from four weekly direct flights.

Passengers traveling to St. Lucia from JFK will benefit from six weekly direct flights (every day except Wednesday), an increase from three weekly flights.

Daily non-stop flights from JFK to Barbados (as well as daily flights through the airline's Montego Bay hub, with continuing service to Kingston) will continue as well.

Passengers are being asked to observe new baggage requirements, including those in place for the holiday season.

In other news, the Jamaican hotel chain SuperClubs, celebrating 31 years in the all-inclusive business, announced its entry into the Panamanian market with the 300-room Breezes Panama in Playa Blanca, slated to open in 2008.

The property marks the first Central American development by the chain, with the resort situated on the country's picturesque southern Pacific coast-home to Panama's best beaches-in the luxury coastal community of Bijao in the Coclé province. Breezes Panama will target singles, couples and families, and will feature a spa, casino and several restaurants.

SuperClubs operates in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Cuba, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic and in Brazil.