Cabinet approves Air Jamaica takeover by Caribbean Airlines

Jamaican Finance Minister, Audley Shaw, stated the Cabinet approved the terms of an agreement for the divestment of the operations of Air Jamaica to Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines, effective 30-Apr-2010 (Jamaica Observer, 28-Apr-2010). Meanwhile, the National Workers Union (NWU), which represents Air Jamaica employees, has complained that the airline's management has yet to provide a list of the workers expected to be employed by Caribbean. The union added that retired employees, in addition to those who entered voluntary redundancy, have yet to be advised on how the sale would affect their pension and other benefits. The NWU had also questioned whether outstanding statutory deductions would be paid before Air Jamaica employees receive their redundancy letters. Meanwhile, Air Jamaica denied reports that operations were being affected by reports of industrial action by its employees, confirming operations are running as per schedule from Montego Bay Sangster International Airport and Kingston Norman Manley International Airport (JamaicaObserver, 28-Apr-2010).