Air Jamaica, LIAT cut routes
Jamaica’s cash-strapped national carrier and regional airline LIAT are both cutting routes as the world economic turbulence takes a toll on their operations.
Air Jamaica revealed to employees yesterday that it addition to getting rid of under-performing routes and reducing its plane fleet, it will have to trim its workforce.
“We are following a schedule that reduces our flying to try to match our capacity with demand and we are reducing and at least eliminating for the time being flights between Jamaica and Miami, also to Grand Cayman, Los Angeles and Atlanta and the Eastern Caribbean,” Chief Executive Officer Bruce Nobles said, adding that the service between Jamaica and Barbados and Jamaica and Grenada will also cease from February 26.
The number of persons who will be sent on the breadline has not yet been decided, Mr Nobles said, but he made it clear that the cuts will “affect all levels in the company because we are going to try and get the company’s cost down to try and match the revenue coming in the door”.
He said that efforts will be made to minimise the impact on staff, with consideration being given to options such as voluntary redundancies and leaves of absence.
The airline’s fleet will also be reduced from 15 to nine aircraft and existing leases will be restructured and aircraft returns negotiated.
All the cuts are part of a business plan for the carrier which is moving to be privatized by March.
Meantime, the Antigua-based LIAT announced on Monday that it would have to cut back on some routes because of a decrease in demand. It said the current world economic crisis was impacting on travel patterns in the Caribbean and the carrier would have to reduce the number of daily flights in and out of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, and St Kitts and Nevis.
“At present there are some flights that are doing fairly well and there are some days with good loads; but unfortunately our forecast overall load factor for the month of January and the next few months is clearly showing a softening in the markets,” explained Director of Schedules and Special Projects Lesroy Browne.
“We will be continuing the process of adjustments throughout this trying time of world economic downturn to ensure that we add capacity where there is a demand and reduce capacity where we see the loads are not holding up.”
LIAT said that from February 15 to 25 and April 9 to 14, it would reinstate at least two flights in an effort to help satisfy demand around the time of the Trinidad Carnival as well as the Easter Weekend.
Tourism hurt by closure of Four Seasons in Nevis
The closure of the Four Seasons Resort in Nevis is being seen as a blow to tourism in St Kitts and Nevis.
Four Seasons Resort Nevis is currently closed until April 30, as a result of the impact of Hurricane Omar which hit the island last October.
Federal Minister of State for Tourism, Senator Richard Skerrit said the closure will “hurt the federation in several ways”, including resulting in fewer visitors on the ground spending.
He told BBC Caribbean that the twin-island federation would also be affected because a percentage of the visitors were arriving on international airlift that the government had contracted with airlines like British Airways to supply.
Senator Skerrit said it might now be a little more difficult to fill seats, adding that it “puts the airlift arrangement at a bit more of a risk”.
Four Seasons, seen as a major employer in Nevis, suffered damage from Hurricane during last year’s transatlantic hurricane season.
American Airlines operates a daily flight from Miami and a twice weekly flight from New York into the Robert L Bradshaw International Airport. Delta airlines operates a weekly flight from Atlanta and US Airways weekly flights from Charlotte and Philadelphia. American Eagle operates a daily flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico and the regional carrier, LIAT and L. Bradshaw WINAIR also operate several flights daily to the international airport in St Kitts and the Vance W Amory International Airport on Nevis.
British Airways commences a weekly flight from London-Gatwick from Saturday.
Cruise Lines Heading for Cuba?
This is an anticipation that the Obama administration willlessentravel restrictions to Cuba. While U.S. cruise lines are not going public with their plans, they are making plans to head there as quickly as they are allowed to do so.Almost everyone in the travel industryagreesthat reopening Cuba to American tourists could give the recession-impacted travel industry a welcome boost. You can bet when that happens airline employees from the US will be non-reving into the island on the first flight they can get a seat on. They will also be on the first cruises setting sail for Cuba.
A survey of cruise lines, for the most part, produced carefullyworded answers about their Cuba plans when government-imposed travel and trade restrictions are lifted. Off of the record, most all already have contingency plans for Cuba including what ports they will call on and what the new itineraries to the Caribbean will look like. You can pretty much say that every single Caribbean cruise itinerary could be changed with the opening of Cuba for ports of call.
I recently asked a cruise executive privately how long it would take to announce the new itineraries once Fidel passed away and he told me within the month, probably two weeks.
A couple cruise lines executives have even spoken publically about this issue.
Frank Del Rio, the 54-year-old CPA who founded Oceania Cruise Line, can’t wait for the cruise lanes to open. He was born in Cuba, and fled the Communist island with his parents when he was 6 years old.
Del Rio, who resides in Miami, is a University of Florida graduate and is also chairman and CEO of Prestige Holdings Inc., the parent company of Oceania and Regent Seven Seas cruise lines. As such, he’s responsible for financial and strategic development of both cruise lines.
“Ten minutes after Castro dies,” he said, “negotiations to open up Cuba will begin. This is a real country with a distinct culture and history. There’s a lot in Cuba that the other islands don’t have. For one thing, it’s by far the biggest island in the Caribbean, and there are a lot of ports that would make very good stops as well as launching pads for other Caribbean destinations.
“It’s forbidden fruit, and that gives it very strong appeal. My dream is that the next Oceania ship will be christened in Havana harbor.”
Although Oceania has two ships under construction in Italy at a cost exceeding $1-billion, it’s unlikely that could happen soon.
“There’s no way the Marina, due to be launched in 2010, would be christened in Havana or anywhere else in Cuba,” Tim Rubacky, Oceania corporate communications director, said. “The ship needs to be christened before she sets sail with her first guests. Based on the construction schedule, it’s just not possible. That’s not to say one of the other new ships wouldn’t be.”
The partner ship of the 1,232-passenger Marina is scheduled for launching in the summer of 2011.
Early in his election campaign, President-elect Obama called for an end to the embargo. However he later modified his position,tosay thathis administration would have a less confrontational policy with the Communist nation, allow greater contacts and more frequent visits by Cuban immigrants but wouldn’t immediately end the embargo.
Cruise lines with a U.S. presence are prohibited by law from operating in or out of Cuba. But, said Lanie Fagan, communications director of the Cruise Lines International Association, “There are operators who do not operate to and from the U.S. who do call on Cuba.”
The nearly 50-year-old embargo prohibits exporting all but a few health and farm essentials to Cuba and bars Americans from traveling and spending money there. Violators can be subject to hefty fines, and in recent years, the Bush administration has stepped up prosecutions.
Even so, thousands of Americans have been going there annually without a State Department license, leaving from places like the Bahamas, Canada, Mexico and Jamaica and requesting Cuban custom officials not to stamp their passports.
When the time comes that Americans don’t have to stay under the radar, Cuba promises to be an intriguing option for cruisers.
“Crystal Cruises would certainly entertain calling on Cuba if it opens up to American tourists,” spokeswoman Mimi Weisband said. “We welcome the opportunity to add new destinations to our Caribbean itineraries and Cuba is ideally located for cruises into and out of South Florida. Like every place we visit, we would have to look closely at the island’s infrastructure for our luxury cruise operations.”
Cruise lines will be able to head to Cuba quickly because they have their own infrastructure and they don? need hotels. All those other Caribbean countries will be scared out of their minds because the market physically, literally about to shift, with everyone wanting to be first on their block to sail into Cuba and that includes airline employees!
When Cuba opens up and the cruise lines announce their new itineraries you can look for it first right here at InterlineTravelNews.com!
Sandy Bay Beach Club in Barbados Offers Last Chance Deal
Sandy Bay Beach Club in Barbadoes has just released a last chance deal for airline employees. For a limited time Sandy Bay Beach Club is offering interliners an additional 35% of their already low rates for stays thru Jan. 15, 2009 when booking thru InterlineTravel.com. Since January is high season in the Caribbean this is an excellent offer at a great resort on a fantastic island.
Sandy Bay Beach Club is an oceanfront property nestled in a lush tropical setting on what is maybe the best beach in Barbados. Protected by a coral reef this beautiful beach is a tropical dream come true.
Situated in a prime and central location on the beautiful and vibrant south coast of Barbados, the resort is in close proximity to a wide variety of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, entertainment, banks and supermarkets, and is within close walking distance of the world-renowned St. Lawrence Gap, the center of dining and night-time entertainment in Barbados. For those who just want to relax, there is a lovely pool and the magnificent beach with the tranquil and turquoise blue Caribbean ocean.
Sandy Bay Beach Club is part of the Palm Beach Hotel Group and is situated just 3 minutes drive fromit’s sister hotel Allamanda Beach Hotel, a 50-room 3-star hotel (www.allamandabeach.com), and 6 minutes from our other sister property, Amaryllis Beach Resort, a 150-room 4-star resort (www.amaryllisbeachresort.com).
Sandy Bay Beach Club is about 2 minutes drive from the 9-hole Rockley golf course, 10 minutes drive from the capital city of Bridgetown, 12 minutes drive from the 18-hole championship golf course, Barbados Golf Club (the parent company of Sandy Bay Beach Clubis part owner of BGC) and 15 minutes drive from the airport. The hotel is located on the main bus route and a taxi service is always available.
What? nearby?
Graham Hall Bird Sanctuary, Harry Bailey Observatory, Oistins fish fry, St. Lawrence Gap, Restaurants, Banks, Supermarkets, Shopping centre, Golf Courses (2 minutes and 12 minutes drive away), Medical centre within walking distance, and a hospital, an emergency medical clinic and dental offices 10 minutes drive away.
If you need more information on prices, reservations and information contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW at metro 817 481-8631 or online at www.interlinetravel.com.
Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival Coming in Jan. 2009
Interliners mightfind that getting a room in Jamaicatough going the 3rd week of January, particularly in Montego Bay!
From January 22 ?24, 2009Rose Hall, Montego Bay comes alive with the JAMAICA Jazz and Blues Festival which is gearing up to be even more electrifying than in previous years.
The Festival, which has hosted acts such as George Benson, Erika Badu, Kenny G, Dionne Warwick, Michael Bolton, Kenny Rogers, Shaggy, Third World and a host of other top-class local and international performers, is expected to live up to its reputation of being the premier event on the Caribbean? entertainment calendar. London? effervescent and multi-talented new artiste, Estelle; Grammy Award-winning star Lionel Richie; and hit-makers Atlantic Starr are just some of the acts which will grace the stage at the 2009 Festival.
A key feature on the line up will be the chart-topping O?ays, whose ? Love Music?and ?iving for the Weekend?seem ageless. The O?ays celebrates 50 years as a performing group in 2009 and this anniversary debut in Jamaica promises to be spectacular. The group will also use their performance at the event to produce an anniversary DVD. Also included in the lyrical mix is Maxi Priest, known for such songs as, ?lose to You? ?ome Guys Have All the Luck?and 1996 hit, ?hat Girl?featuring Shaggy. Maxi will use his performance at the festival to launch his new album which will hit the streets in 2009.
Vocalist Randy Crawford, accompanied by pianist Joe Sample, is also expected to be a hit with the audience. The two have had a long history starting with the 1979 classic ?treetlife?recorded with R&B veterans, Crusaders, of which Joe was a member. More recently, the magical combination has again struck gold with the single ?eeling Good? released in 2007. Randy has also worked with both Eric Clapton and David Sanborn to release the hit ?nocking on Heaven? Door?and has produced other well known hits such as ?ive Peace a Chance?
Alto Reed, renown saxophonist of rocker Bob Seger? Silver Bullet Band, will perform alongside several other legendary musicians as Alto Reed Blues Entourage. The combined musical talent of the group is without question and they are expected to excite the crowd with an amazing performance. Lou Gramm, former lead singer of the group Foreigner, and known for hits such as, ?idnight Blue? ? Don? Want to Love Without You?and ?ay You Will?will also add his musical flair to the 2009 event. The 14-year-old Canadian sensation, Nikki Yanofsky who thrilled the crowd gathered at the Aqueduct on Rose Hall at the 2007 staging of the Festival, and who is now a top-selling recording artiste in Canada, promises to once again deliver a sizzling set at the upcoming event.
The Festival, well known for its tradition of presenting a creative mix of musical genre on its worlds-class stage, will also feature the Cuban band, Los Van Van, whose music is a fusion of rock, funk, hip-hop, disco and Afro-Cuban sound.
There is no doubt that Jamaica Jazz and Blues 2009 will deliver all that is expected and more. The 40,000 plus patrons which attend the event over the three-day period is made up not only of Jamaicans, but also includes a wide range of visitors from the United States, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean. With the increased attention that is being paid in promoting the 2009 Festival internationally, it is expected that the number of visitors to the 2009 event will increase, a fact which the JTB feels will greatly assist in filling the 4,000 new rooms which will be available between the Montego Bay and Negril areas by January.
So if you are looking to go to Jamaica for the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival then you need to book now as space is filling up fast. Contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area at 817 481-8631 or online at www.interlinetravel.com
Volcano Alert on Montserrat
Reports from Montserrat show that since last Saturday, December 20, rock falls and pyroclastic flows have started to go down Tyres Ghaut, with a few reaching the very lower part of the ghaut, in less than three minutes. There is a lack of warning signs before such rock-falls/pyroclastic flows. Lava extrusion is now occurring at/or very near – the top of the old dome, on the north-northwestern side, increasing the potential for material entering Tyres Ghaut. Reports indicate that thisactivity is extremely unlikely to decrease over the coming few weeks.
The hazard level is likely to increase due to potential accumulation of new lava high-up in the dome even if the level does not increase a great deal.
Disaster officials in Montserrat have raised the hazard level of the Soufriere Hills Volcano following steadily increasing activity over the last 10 days.
Although not mandating any evacuation at this time,disaster officials in Monterrat haverecommended that the hazard level be increased from three to four, due to the threat to areas north and west of the dome, and urged increased preparedness for those living in Zone B of the island, which includes Isles Bay, Waterworks, parts of Old Towne and the lower part of Happy Hill.
Level three signifies mild activity that threatens the west of the island; significant change of measured activity and high measured activity, while level four relates to lava extrusion that threatens the north or west and a large unstable dome to the north or west.
The government has moved to assure residents and visitors that measures are continuing to ensure their safety, as well as keeping them informed on the developing situation.
Cayman Cookout
Join Chef Eric Ripert for a weekend celebrating food, wine and the natural beauty of the Caribbean. An incomparable roster of world famous chefs, sommeliers and spirits blenders will offer tastings, demonstrations, tours and dinners that celebrate the barefoot elegance that only the Cayman Islands can deliver.
This event takes place from Jan. 16-19, 2009. Tickets for most events can be purchased in advance at http://www.caymanislands.ky/cayman_cookout/. The more popular events will sell out in advance.
InterlineTravel.com still has some rooms available in Cayman during this time. For rates and more information contact them at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area at metro 817 481-8631 or online at www.interlinetravel.com.
Caribbean Resort Rates Are Dropping
Occupancy levels for the 1st quarter of 2009 appear to be weak. As a result many resorts in the Caribbean are starting to lower their interline rates. Few resortsare reporting very many sold out dates as of the time we published this post. Flights to the Caribbean appear to be open especially to the popular destinations like Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and Aruba. For interliners thinking of the beach after the holidays the Caribbean should be on their radar. The rates are not as low as found in the fall when it is low season. Jan – April is high season in the Caribbean so the rates are considerably higher than low season. But the discount percentage is about the same so interliners can find some very attractive opportunities in the Caribbean this year. As usual check the loads and make sure the resort offers “bump protection”. Bad weather as we have already seen in the NE can ruin travel schedules and what was once open flights are suddenly packed and visa versa. If the flight doesn’t come in from NYC to Miami then the odds are the flight out of Miami will suddenly open up. Stay flexible and ready to go is our best advice.
