Opposition presses Government over soaring airfares to Jamaica, fall in arrivals

The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has called for the Government to detail its plans to stem the decline in visitor arrivals as well as the soaring cost of air travel to Jamaica.

In a release on Tuesday, Spokesperson on Tourism and Linkages, Andrea Purkiss, who is also Member of Parliament for East Hanover, argued that something has to be done to address the issue, citing recent spikes in air travel, including from relatively close destinations such as Florida in the United States.

Florida is a critical gateway for Jamaicans.

Jamaicans at home and abroad have complained about the high cost of airfare.

In August, The Gleaner reported that checks showed American Airlines quoting US$3,744 return between Montego Bay and Miami, with JetBlue’s Fort Lauderdale flights repeatedly sold out.

The situation has been compounded by the collapse of ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, which ceased operations in May after filing for bankruptcy protection for a second time last year.

Its disappearance removed seats from the Jamaica-Florida market and also removed a low-cost competitor that had helped exert downward pressure on fares.

Purkiss argued that this is a harsh reality for Jamaicans seeking to travel.

“Somewhere in Fort Lauderdale this morning there is a Jamaican woman wondering if she can afford to bury her mother. Ninety minutes of flying, but she’s being asked to pay US$3,700. That is not a fare. That is a wall,” she charged.

Speaking on arrivals, the Opposition spokesperson pointed to what she said was Jamaica Tourist Board data, which, according to her, show that non-resident Jamaican arrivals rose 7.6 per cent in June, but Purkiss was quick to say that this does not mean fares are affordable.

“Do not mistake our people’s love of country for evidence they can afford these prices. A Jamaican will borrow, beg, or empty savings to get home. That is not a market working. That is a captive people being charged whatever the traffic will bear,” she argued.

According to her, compared with 2024, non-resident Jamaican arrivals are down 16.5 per cent.

“Those are the grandmothers who didn’t come. The grandchildren who didn’t meet them. The empty chairs at nine-nights and christenings,” she charged.

She added: “Sangster International [Airport] handled 26.7 per cent fewer passengers in the first half of the year.

Overall stopover arrivals fell 23.5 per cent to 1.13 million, with US arrivals down 27.9 per cent.”

Purkiss also criticised the Tourism Minister for dismissing Spirit Airlines’ collapse on May 2 as only 3 per cent of capacity.

“The Minister counted seats when he should have been counting competitors. The other airlines took Spirit’s passengers, then raised prices.”

According to the opposition spokesperson, other destinations that also lost Spirit have grown.

Purkiss said, given the situation, Jamaicans should be told by the Government what is being done to address the issue.

To that end, she wants the Tourism Minister to report to Parliament on airlift negotiations for Florida routes before winter.

Also, she wants Bartlett to publish the assessment of Spirit’s impact and contingency plans, state what relief exists for Jamaicans facing emergency travel costs, and provide a timeline to restore competitive service from Kingston to Fort Lauderdale.

“Our people did not abandon Jamaica. They are paying prices that would shame any government, and they are paying in silence. The least the Minister owes them is an honest account of what he intends to do,” Purkiss said.

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