NEW YORK – February 23, 2007 – Barbados' Consul General in New York, Jessica Odle, is calling on all Barbadians in the US to support Air Jamaica's new daily service to the island.

Addressing compatriots at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge on the occasion of the 10th year of partnership between Air Jamaica and Barbados, the Consul General said the community has a responsibility to support "the only carrier of the region today." She told those present, "I cannot speak of any other because it has not been presented to me formally. I have only today, as I stand here, a relationship with Air Jamaica as a carrier to the Caribbean and to Barbados. And until that changes I have to 'big up' Air Jamaica (and) want to urge each and everyone of you to start planning your trips on Air Jamaica - the prices are great.

Highlighting the importance of Air Jamaica's community outreach initiatives, Odle said "we are cognisant that we will always have choices, but our first choice must be to patriotism and in this context, patriotism is Caribbean, Caribbean, Caribbean - first, second and last."

Air Jamaica recently launched new daily flights to Barbados from JFK Airport in New York, signaling a giant step forward for travel and tourism in the Eastern Caribbean. The new service was announced in the wake of the winding up of BWIA West Indies Airways' and the decision by its successor, Caribbean Airlines, to drop Barbados from its non-stop New York schedule.

Paul Pennicook, Air Jamaica's Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said the company is excited about the new service and the 10 year partnership. "We intend to be flying to Barbados for a very long time," said Pennicook, who added that in addition to daily non-stop service to and from New York, Air Jamaica also flies between Barbados and the Montego Bay, Jamaica hub on a daily basis. "Barbados is clearly the hub of the Eastern Caribbean so by flying into Barbados as frequently as we do, we are also serving our Caribbean brothers and sisters."


The airline's Regional Director for the Northeast USA, Campbell Rudder, underscored that the new service on Barbados' designated national flag carrier is not a direct, but non-stop service, and that the convenient schedules allow for smooth passage through Immigration and Customs at Grantley Adams International Airport on both arrival and departure.