3,000 C’bean Airlines passengers still stranded after Sandy

Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:
Approximately 3,000 Caribbean Airlines passengers have been displaced by Hurricane Sandy.

Passengers who were scheduled to leave Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada remain stranded after three days up to yesterday (Tuesday), says general manager of CAL Jamaica, Clive Forbes.

"It is very challenging because we have been hoping that JFK will reopen so we can reallocate all these displaced passengers," said Forbes.

However he said he understood the challenges of the authorities in New York.

SEE: YOUR PHOTOS - Hurricane Sandy in the US

News out of New York this morning is that at least two main airports in the Northeast would reopen, the JFK and Newark International.

"They have to ensure that the entire operation is safe before they can resume flights," said Forbes, adding that a few CAL passengers had found alternative ways to get back to New York without flying into JFK or La Guardia which remain closed.

"For instance they flew from here in Jamaica to Ft. Lauderdale and made their way by other airlines, but there are those who wanted to get back home because of their job and security of their property.

On Tuesday, some eight flights between Philadelphia, JFK and the Sangster International Airport were cancelled as a result of the storm.

The airlines included US Airways, Jetblue and Caribbean Airlines.

A statement for MBJ Airport Limited's Elizabeth Scotton said the airlines had been updating the operations centre for the airport, which in turn has been relaying the information on the MBJ website.

"However, we continue to encourage passengers and hotels to check directly with the airline to verify operations for flights arriving from or departing to the North East area of the United States through to Thursday.

The numbers to call are:

(US Airways)
1-800-622-1015

(Jetblue)
1-800-963-3014 (landline only)
1-8660963-3014 (cell phone only)

(Caribbean Airlines)
1-800-744-2225
1-999-359-2475

Like our new Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/gleanerjamaica

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/JamaicaGleaner

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com