Air Jamaica Layoffs Pilots

Air Jamaica is laying off 40 pilots as part of a restructuring program. The debt-ridden airline said that some of the pilots have already been sent home with immediate effect. While others will have their contracts terminated within 90 days.

In a letter to members of staff, Executive Chairman Dr. Vin Lawrence said 23 pilots on staff and 17 contract pilots had been notified that their posts were being made redundant.

He said that the airline, which was recently taken over by the PJ Patterson administration, had reduced its frequency of flights and was operating a smaller fleet so it did not need the present number of pilots.

The dispute involving the restructuring team, which manages Air Jamaica and the pilots, has been simmering since the board was appointed late last year.