Caribbean Airlines settlement talks begin

Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer

The joint committee has begun its work to arrive at a settlement owed to local agencies by Caribbean Airlines.

The members of the committee are drawn from both Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

The parties met separately yesterday to begin preliminary work.

Chairman of the Jamaican committee attorney-at-law, Michael Hylton, said a meeting is to be called within a week to hold the first formal discussions.

Caribbean Airlines has reportedly racked up some US$1.5 million in debt to the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority and the Norman Manley International Airport.

It’s understood that the money is for unpaid airport fees and outstanding taxes.

The joint Jamaica-Trinidad committee is to also look at, among other things, addressing concerns about the continued use of the Air Jamaica brand by Caribbean Airlines.

Trinidad’s Civil Aviation Authority has instructed the airlines to drop the brand because its certification does not permit it to operate two brands.

CAL has been operating the two brands since it acquired Air Jamaica more than a year ago.

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