Embrace REDjet concept

THIS WEEK, negotiations continue concerning whether REDjet, a low budget airline, should be allowed to fly to Trinidad and Jamaica. The civil aviation authorities in Trinidad and Jamaica are examining the submission. The airline has already begun servicing the Barbados/Guyana route as well as providing charters since May of this year. It is stated that there are safety concerns related to REDjet and unease regarding the impact on the economic viability of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) if REDjet is permitted to operate on the same routes as CAL.

The REDjet concept is based on low airfares and non-stop flights between Caribbean territories. Jamaica needs to embrace the REDjet concept of a low-budget airline with non-stop flights from Jamaica to both Trinidad and Barbados as part of its normal offering. At present, it takes too long to travel from Jamaica to Trinidad and Barbados because of the lack of direct flights. Direct flights would save time and money. Also, it would facilitate an increase in travel and trade between these territories. There are many benefits to be had from having direct flights from Jamaica to our major Caribbean Community (CARICOM) partners.

In my March 1, 2005 article, I suggested that Air Jamaica should become a low-budget, no-frills airline because the national budget could not support Air Jamaica for another five years. (See Air Jamaica: Another Route). From then, it was stated that the Bahamas and Dominican Republic did not have national airlines but were successful as tourism destinations. We could not afford the champagne taste and flying chef with our soda (soft drink) pocket. The tasty meals were good but the airline could not afford it. We need to embrace the REDjet concept.

Direct flight cheaper

Reduction in costs would help the travelling public. It is cheaper to fly directly to Curaçao from Jamaica rather than going through Miami. Furthermore, it takes 90 minutes from Jamaica to Curaçao with a direct flight, but more than twice that time if one goes through a third country such as the United States of America.

Additionally, it is welcome news that Edmund Bartlett, minister of tourism, is trying to get direct flights from Nigeria, South Africa, China, Chile, Ecuador, Columbia and Russia. If he is successful, then Jamaica would benefit from more tourists, cheaper fares and less travel time. What is not known is that it takes approximately 20 hours to go to a Southern African nation, which does not include transit time in London. Furthermore, one would need a transit visa from Britain to undertake that journey. However, direct flights to parts of Africa from Jamaica could be four hours. It would be like going to New York!

The way forward is for Jamaica and the Caribbean to embrace the low-budget airline carrier concept. Air Jamaica even when it had its fleet of 20 airplanes, was considered a small airline. We need to realise that even CAL would be perceived as a small airline and we need to go low budget. Irish low-budget airline Ryan Air has at least 70 planes, so we should not be short-sighted and believe that it can be business as usual.

We need to remember where we are coming from with Air Jamaica. And Jamaica even retaining a percentage of the ownership of shares in the new airline, might not be a good idea. It is hardly likely that the new airline will be able to be profitable in the short term.

When an analysis is done, there are many benefits to having low-budget direct flights to our major CARICOM trading partners and sister territories.

Let us embrace the REDjet concept for the benefit of the people and governments of the Caribbean.

Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew. Email columns@gleanerjm.com