Air Jamaica Cuts 300 Jobs

Air Jamaica handed out pink slips to 300 workers last week in a move to reduce staff by 15 percent, according to the Jamaica Observer.

The layoffs affect ground staff and pilots at the airports in Kingston and Montego Bay as well as at the airline’s head office in Kingston. Flight attendant jobs were spared, according to Kavan Gayle, president of the Bustamente Industrial Trade Union.

Gayle said that the laid-off workers will be sent on leave without pay, and after 120 days will be offered a termination payment or rehired.

Air Jamaica, which carries $1 billion in accumulated debt, has been restructuring this year. The airline cut 30 staff in February when eight routes were slashed, including all flights from Miami, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

The national carrier was scheduled to be divested last March, but remains unsold. Prime Minister Bruce Golding was scheduled to address the Jamaica Parliament on Tuesday and may have an announcement regarding the sale.