By Ben Kilbey
The New Year looks set to deal a poor hand to the Caribbean island of Antigua as Air Jamaica, which has already announced the termination of its Cuba service in ‘05, will cease airlift to the nation. This move will commence January 10.

Antigua has been enjoying increased arrivals to the island over 2004, especially from the UK market. The removal of the service may cause a dent to visitor numbers.

The reason for the termination is the fact that Air Jamaica is suffering fiscal loses and is in need of ‘restructuring’.

It is alleged that Air Jamaica’s Chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart could not be persuaded into not canceling the route during meetings held with Harold Lovell, Antigua’s Minister of Tourism.

Airline officials are upbeat that the service should be able to resume to Antigua in the ‘not too distant future’.

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