Janet Silvera, Senior Tourism Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Hard-hit BY devastating fuel prices, last Monday's talks between Air Jamaica and Cayman Airways are being hailed as a clutch for survival, including possible implementation of code-sharing.

The meeting between the two regional airlines was convened to discuss the crisis which the Caribbean is now facing from the fallout.

Stressing that the talks were at the preliminary stage, Air Jamaica's Acting President and Chief Executive Officer, William Rodgers, said the two carriers expect to arrive at an agreement regarding reciprocal handling.

Code-sharing is a pact between airlines to list flights in a reservation system under each other's names.

Significant savings

Cayman Airways now handles Air Jamaica's ground operations in that country, he confirmed, adding that it would represent significant savings for the airlines.

They are also talking code-share, "meaning we don't necessarily have to duplicate flying on the same route."

Air Jamaica currently flies to Barbados, Grenada, Nassau, Grand Cayman and Curaçao, in addition to its many gateways in the United States.

However, Allen Chastenet, chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and minister of tourism in St Lucia, feels there is no way that the regional carriers can survive under their present structure.

"Both carriers are now in a 'grip market' and they were barely making it on their own under better market conditions; when you go into higher fuel costs, it's going to require people stepping out of the box and doing untraditional things," Chastenet said.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com