JAM747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 550 posts, RR: 1 Posted (6 years 3 months 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 2744 times:
I have been browsing through JM fleet history and have seen some interesting planes once operated by this realtively small airline. Does anyone know any more about a B707, operated in 1959, 737 and 747s leased from Air Lingus, 727 shared with BWIA, 747s in the late eight eighties and early 90s, their 727s and their DC8s ? I tried researching these but cannot find much information so I figured maybe some fellow a.netters might have personal experience with these.
I don't think JM flew the 707. They did have the DC8s in their fleet, and that is confirmed by the picture you posted.
Around 1964 the government of Trinidad and Tobago took control of BWIA. After that was in place the airline shifted its focus to the northern Caribbean and set up a base in Jamaica. Eventually the Jamaican government took over BWIA's Jamaica base and, with help from BWIA itself and later Air Canada, formed Air Jamaica. That explains the ties the two airlines had. The 727 you see there was actually one of BWIA's airplanes and not Air Jamaica's.
With regards to actually JM 727s, they flew with JM even in the new / current paint scheme, and were gotten rid of when Butch Stewart decided to simplify the fleet, going with Airbus. JM also during that time flew the MD83s.
That's all I know. The 747s I imagine were wet leased for long haul flights. There is also a big in the database of a wet leased BW 747 as well.
CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (6 years 3 months 23 hours ago) and read 2644 times:
Hi!
I remember when I visited LHR during September 1980 to see there Air Jamaica Douglas DC-8-61 flying to Kingston. They had a great livery then ( the current one is also great of course...).
Regards
[quote=Captaink,reply=1]JM also during that time flew the MD83s
Quoting Captaink (Reply 1): Eventually the Jamaican government took over BWIA's Jamaica base and, with help from BWIA itself and later Air Canada, formed Air Jamaica. That explains the ties the two airlines had. The 727 you see there was actually one of BWIA's airplanes and not Air Jamaica's.
Mbj-11 From Jamaica, joined Aug 2000, 386 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (6 years 3 months 6 hours ago) and read 2362 times:
To fill in the gaps, the 747 were leased to cover the JFK-MBJ-KIN routes which were filled as a result of the demise of Pan Am and Eastern and the limit seats then offered by AA. They were leased from Air Lingus (Aer Lingus) and Tower Air. They were replaced when the routes became poular with foreign carriers so the demand was not as great.
The reason why they ditched the A300's was because then CEO Butch Stewart thought the A300's had too high an operting cost and decided to go with the A310's which he felt were newer, more efficient and better suited JM's long haul flights. JAM-JFK/LHR.
Hope that helps.
JAM747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 550 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (6 years 3 months 5 hours ago) and read 2270 times:
Quoting Mbj-11 (Reply 5): They were leased from Air Lingus (Aer Lingus) and Tower Air. They were replaced when the routes became poular with foreign carriers so the demand was not as great.
Thanks for this info I have always wondered why JM needed a 747 at that time. I flew on one of the Tower Air Versions from MBJ to JFK via KIN. It was my only 747 flight but it was a very old plane and it actualy squeaked. I am still very curious about the 707 in JM colors that I posted above in the link.
Captaink From Mexico, joined May 2001, 5093 posts, RR: 13 Reply 8, posted (6 years 3 months 4 hours ago) and read 2243 times:
Quoting Mbj-11 (Reply 5): The reason why they ditched the A300's was because then CEO Butch Stewart thought the A300's had too high an operting cost and decided to go with the A310's which he felt were newer,
To add to Mbj11 comment, they later dumped the A310s for the same reason the A300s were dumped, and for the sake of simpifying the fleet.
Quoting JAM747 (Reply 7): I am still very curious about the 707 in JM colors that I posted above in the link.
The key might lie in that tail logo. I don't recognize it. It doesn't look like JMs hummingbird, but moreso something along the lines of a condor, the type used by Luftansa and Condor Airlines.
JAM747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 550 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (6 years 2 months 4 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2165 times:
Quoting Captaink (Reply 8): To add to Mbj11 comment, they later dumped the A310s for the same reason the A300s were dumped, and for the sake of simpifying the fleet.
This was probably a bad move as the A300 or A310 would have done a better job in terms of the amount of cargo compared to the A320. I think JM used to have to leave alot of bags behind especially during the holidays as the A320s did not have the capacity. The 757s they leased took care of this problem I think and that is why they are looking into getting some 757s when they go to Boeing fleet.
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