Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett is refuting claims that the revenue guarantee given to legacy carrier American Airlines will pose a threat to national carrier Air Jamaica.

In a release yesterday, Bartlett said the agreement will in no way undermine the service provided by the national carrier.

The Government is to give American Airlines (AA) a US$4.5- million (J$324 million) guarantee to encourage flights to the island.

"Such a deal with a legacy carrier allows us the opportunity to deliver the world to Jamaica, and Jamaica to the world," noted Bartlett.

Bartlett said Jamaica Vacations, the agency which negotiated the arrangement with American Airlines, is responsible for exploring opportunities to increase flight capacity to Jamaica and to form strategic alliances with travel-industry partners through varied options.

Once, reviewed, and successfully accepted, he said, the partnerships would ultimately benefit Jamaica.

The tourism minister said Jamaica enjoys increased service from American Airlines. He added that while a number of our regional counterparts will see a reduction in service, Jamaica is poised to benefit from the additional airlift, based on the arrangement.

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Effective November 2, American Airlines will begin daily service from Dallas Fort Worth to Montego Bay. It will increase to three the number of daily flights from Miami to Montego Bay.

As of January 31, 2009, American Airlines will offer a new service five times a week from Chicago to Montego Bay. In all three gateways, American will operate a Boeing 737 with a capacity of 148 seats, providing in excess of 3,000 additional seats to Jamaica.