New Jamaican upstart faces challenges in building a viable business in the Caribbean

A little over a year after Caribbean Airlines formalised its acquisition of Air Jamaica and became the default national airline of the region, a new Jamaica-based carrier, Fly Jamaica, aims to launch service in the coming weeks to Guyana and inaugurate long-haul flights to North America in a bid to create new competition for Caribbean Airlines. As Fly Jamaica seeks to reclaim some of Air Jamaica's former glory, the carrier faces an uphill climb in launching a successful operation in the unpredictable Caribbean aviation market.

Kingston-based Fly Jamaica has reportedly received its AOC from Jamaican authorities on 31-Aug-2012 after completing proving fights with a two class (12 first, 186 economy) Boeing 757-200 jet. The carrier on its website states it will operate flights from Kington to Guyana, New York and Toronto, routes already well served by both Caribbean and US and Canadian carriers.