<<< Western Air is Ready for Take-off to Jamaica in April – Two Western Air SAAB 340A 33 seater aircraft on the tarmac. The SAAB will be used on the new Kingston and Montego Bay routes. Western Air was recently approved by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation as well as the Jamaican Civil Aviation Authority for direct service from Nassau to Jamaica. The new service begins April 2010. The Nassau to Kingston flights are scheduled to commence on Monday, April 12th. The Montego Bay route begins April 30th. Western Air will fly between Nassau and Kingston daily except Saturdays, and between Nassau and Montego Bay twice weekly on Fridays and Sundays.
Bahamian company Western Air will launch daily flight services into Montego Bay, Jamaica from the Bahamas on June 11th adding this to its Kingston service.
“There was no question about beginning flight service into Montego Bay, we were so elated by the positive response we received from Kingston, we knew almost instantaneously that Montego Bay would be next on our agenda,” Rex Rolle, the President & CEO of Western Air said.
Western Air intends on starting the Montego Bay destination at an introductory rate of $320 roundtrip plus taxes. Tickets are now on sale at Jamaica Dispatch Services at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and all major travel agencies in Jamaica and the Bahamas.
Western Air has been preparing and training their staff in both Jamaica and the Bahamas for the new Jamaica expansion. Check- in at the Montego Bay airport will be conducted by Jamaica Dispatch Services.
The flight from Nassau to Montego Bay leaves at 9:30 am (Bahamas time) with a schedule arrival into Montego Bay at 10:30 am (Jamaica time) and departs from Montego Bay at 11:30 am (Jamaica time) with schedule arrival into Nassau at 2:30 pm (Bahamian time).
According to Rolle, Western Air is committed to the Kingston and Montego routes by continuing to provide safe, reliable and affordable air services. The company has recently signed a multi-million dollar purchase agreement to acquire three additional aircrafts.
Rolle explained that these new aircrafts, SAAB 340 B models are better suited for the new Jamaica routes in particular, as a result of their ability to carry a thousand more pounds, higher cruising speed and overall better performance.
Rolle also elaborated that the SAAB 340 B is an advancement and later model of the SAAB 340 A that the company currently operates. Delivery of the new aircrafts is expected between 60 and 90 days.
Western Air is the largest privately- owned airline in the Bahamas and is fully Bahamian owned and operated with their main headquarters based in San Andros.
Western Air is currently constructing a 4 million US dollar state of the art terminal and maintenance facility at the Grand Bahama International Airport with schedule opening at the end of summer, 2010.
Upon completion the facility will serve as the airline’s northern hub and will facilitate the launch of Western Air’s expansion into the Jamaica, South Florida and Northern Bahamas market.
Passengers traveling to and from Jamaica can connect to other destinations in the Bahamas, as Western Air currently flies from Nassau daily to major Bahamian destinations, such as, Freeport, Marsh Harbour, Exuma, Congo Town, San Andros and Bimini.
