Will Rodgers is Air Jamaica's acting GM

William Rodgers has been appointed to act as general manager for Air Jamaica, replacing Howard Hall who quit on Monday, after just seven months in the post.

Hall, formerly Air Jamaica's vice-president for finance and technology, was named general manager last July at the end of the contract of former president and CEO, Bruce R. Nobles.

In a press release announcing the appointment, Caribbean Airlines said that the board of directors has accepted Hall's resignation, at the same time expressing disappointment in customer care and profitability.

"We need to provide strong leadership in order to build trust between our employees and the travelling public, since we know they have a choice in air travel," the statement attributed to Caribbean Airlines Chairman George Nicholas III said. "Our long-term strategy is to have two brands - one Caribbean airline, and our focus is also on customer experience."

"Our executive management team draws from the best from both companies, and this will be a distinct advantage as we move towards our expansion plans and, more specifically, moving the Air Jamaica brand to its former glory."

The Air Jamaica brand was re-launched at a gala in Kingston last month, and since then in major cities in North America.

"Our ability to service many more routes will become a reality as we phase in the Boeing fleet," remarked Chairman Nicholas, speaking of the seven Boeing 737 next-generation aircraft that is expected to be added to the Air Jamaica fleet by the end of 2011.

Among the plans for the Air Jamaica brand is a return to the United Kingdom and other notable routes, which were previously operated by the airline.

According to the chairman, Rodgers, who is currently in charge of sales at Air Jamaica, and has had a long and distinguished career with the airline, possesses the resolve to make our ambitious plans a reality

"We need all of our teams functioning as one, with the purpose to be the best in the Caribbean, and I look forward to the Jamaica team being in the top five among our station rankings this year. The airline is as good as its employees and it is only through their efforts will we make this airline a global success."