Allen calls for Bartlett to correct 'misleading' Emirates statements

The parliamentary Opposition is accusing Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett of misleading Jamaicans in his announcement of a code-share deal between Emirates and Condor airlines for flights to Jamaica from Dubai.

Opposition spokesperson on tourism and linkages, Janice Allen, asserts that Bartlett gave the impression that Emirates would soon begin direct flights to Jamaica.

"This assertion is simply untrue," Allen said in a media release on Thursday. "Let the record show: Emirates is NOT launching flights to Jamaica," she added.

"What was in fact announced is that Condor, a German airline, is expanding its service to Jamaica. While Condor does have a strategic partnership with Emirates—enabling code-sharing on selected routes—this does not equate to Emirates flying directly to Jamaica," Allen stated.

She said presenting the partnership as an Emirates airlift to Jamaica is "disingenuous" and "does a disservice to the Jamaican public".

Allen is calling for the minister of tourism to immediately correct the record and commit to ensuring that future announcements reflect facts.

"Jamaicans deserve the truth when it comes to our tourism and airlift strategies. Rather than dressing up a shared-code partnership as a groundbreaking new route, the government should instead focus its energy on securing legitimate, direct flights that deliver tangible benefits to our economy and to those on the frontlines of the industry," Allen said.

Bartlett announced on Wednesday that the flights out of Dubai are to begin in April.

It's understood that Emirates will offer the first leg to Frankfurt, Germany, with Condor transporting passengers from there to Montego Bay.

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.