JAMAICA – Fly Jamaica folds four months after crash landing in Guyana

Caribbean News Service – Four months after one of its aircraft skidded off the runway at Guyana’s main airport, Fly Jamaica has announced it is ending it operations.

“The Board of Directors of Fly Jamaica regrets to inform you that due to our lack of aircraft and the impact that it has had on the company’s financial position, we have no alternative but to make all employees redundant effective March 31, 2019,” the airline wrote in a letter to all employees on March 29.

“It is with great sadness and remorse that we have arrived at this juncture. We were hoping for funding, but that has been slow in coming, therefore, for the time being no other resources or options exist.”

The airline was also facing a class-action lawsuit for compensation for passengers and their families who had been harmed in the Nov. 9 crash.

The airline reported that two elderly passengers had been taken to hospital as a precaution, but said no one was seriously injured after the Toronto-bound flight experienced an emergency less than 20 minutes after taking off.

The plane skidded off the runway upon landing, damaging its right wing and engine.

In its letter on March 29 Fly Jamaica thanked employees for their service, loyalty and dedication to the company.

“We are still committed to providing you with the compensation you are owed from November 2018, to date. We ask that you allow us more time to do so,” the letter states.

“If the company’s circumstances change in the future and you are still interested in employment with the company, you will be invited to apply for a position within the company.”