OB1504 From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 2535 posts, RR: 9 Posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 5530 times:
After nearly 40 years of service, Airbus A321-211 6Y-JMS operated Air Jamaica's last flight out of MIA, Flight 024 to Kingston, Jamaica. I was granted ramp and concourse access and took video and photos of the whole event, which are uploading as I type.
A model of JM's sole A319 that I made for the occasion. The A321 seems to have been a last-minute substitute.
The crew of JM 024.
Posing with the signed certificate commemorating JM's final flight into MIA.
JM's MIA ground staff.
And so, the sun sets on 6Y-JMS and JM's four decades of service to MIA.
The videos of 6Y-JMS pulling into Gate F9 and of her receiving a water cannon salute on her way out are uploading to YouTube and should be up within two hours or so.
BWIA 772 From United States of America, joined May 2002, 2162 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 5450 times:
Thanks for posting... hopefully the Lovebird will be back!! Would love to see them return with BGI MIA GND MIA ! Seriously sad to see MIA go but the airline has to do what is has to survive so good luck JM!
A340Jamaica From Jamaica, joined Nov 2008, 429 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 5427 times:
A sad day indeed. MIA was one of the two original JM routes, the other being of course none other than JFK!!! Hopefully, JM will be back in better times with the right equipment to challenge AA.
PRAirbus From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2005, 896 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 5237 times:
Wow! Those JM employees look very happy, how odd! I guess these are signs of the times. JM prefers FLL for its lower costs but MIA is a major connecting hub...I guess JM has become a VFR carrier in the South Florida market to quit MIA and stay in FLL. In FLL they face competition from Spirit I wonder how that affects JMs fares. MIA is a prestige destination; that's like flying to EWR instead of JFK or STN versus LHR...does not make sense.
OB1504 From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 2535 posts, RR: 9 Reply 7, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 5201 times:
Quoting PRAirbus (Reply 5): JM prefers FLL for its lower costs but MIA is a major connecting hub...I guess JM has become a VFR carrier in the South Florida market to quit MIA and stay in FLL. In FLL they face competition from Spirit I wonder how that affects JMs fares. MIA is a prestige destination; that's like flying to EWR instead of JFK or STN versus LHR...does not make sense.
It's not a question of lower costs--it's that JM is flying fuller planes with higher yields to FLL, despite the competition from AA and NK. Broward County also has a higher percentage of Jamaicans living there than Miami-Dade County does, which would also help explain this.
I wouldn't compare it to flying to STN instead of LHR. Maybe LGW. And EWR is in most ways, an equal to JFK. ISP would be a more appropriate analogy.
HummingBird From Jamaica, joined Mar 2007, 2694 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 5140 times:
Quoting PRAirbus (Reply 5): JM prefers FLL for its lower costs
Correct..The CEO stated the costs at FLL are 15-20% lower compared to MIA..
Quoting PRAirbus (Reply 5): but MIA is a major connecting hub
Which is beneficial to AA...Their three flights from MIA to KIN carry a substantial amount of connecting traffic..In addition they have a large AAdavantage presence in the Kingston area..
Quoting PRAirbus (Reply 5): In FLL they face competition from Spirit I wonder how that affects JMs fares
The market is large to support all three carriers..Next month there will be between 5 -7daily flights between KIN and FLL....
JM- 4 flights..
AA-1 flight...They also have 3 flights from MIA...
NK...6 days a week..Two flights on Thursday..
Quoting OB1504 (Reply 7): Broward County also has a higher percentage of Jamaicans living there than Miami-Dade County
Correct...In addition, the Jamaicans who live in Miami-Dade live closer to FLL when compared to MIA..
MarcoPoloWorld From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 555 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 5061 times:
Very odd indeed. A flag carrier abandoning its most important station and a world hub for some secondary suburban (mega sprawl) airfield is puzzling. Well then, good luck to you, Air Jamaica, and enjoy the alleged 15-20 % that you think you will save by moving yourself out of your main near-US hub.
A340jamaica From Jamaica, joined Nov 2008, 429 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 5056 times:
I still believe that they have to return when they reorganize. MIA cannot be without competition to Jamaica. The right (smaller E190 anyone?) equipment is needed for sure, but return they must or the fares ex MIA for business will slowly rise, the only tempering force being FLL at some inconvenience away.
BW424 From Trinidad and Tobago, joined Sep 2008, 1186 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 5052 times:
Great shots!! It really is surreal knowing JM will no longer be at MIA.I remember the days when you always saw a JM aircraft at the gate,sometimes even two when flying into MIA in the past.
It is what we think we know already that prevents us from learning.......
A340jamaica From Jamaica, joined Nov 2008, 429 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 5026 times:
Quoting BW424 (Reply 12): Great shots!! It really is surreal knowing JM will no longer be at MIA.I remember the days when you always saw a JM aircraft at the gate,sometimes even two when flying into MIA in the past.
Yes, in the past some days there were 6 or 7 flights per day to MIA especially during the busy periods like Christmas. Some of those flights were 250 seater A300 B4 200s. Surreal indeed, their original route!!
Jmbweeboy From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 235 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (2 years 11 months 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 4793 times:
Incomprehensible to me JM would give up on Miami. Flew the Mbj - Mia route in August 1969, JM's inaugural year in F class on DC-9-30. The meal for even such a short flight was the best!
I last flew on JM 024 in September 2001 on the ' Spirit Of Portmore '. Though they changed the flight # to JM 2024 last minute to accommodate stranded passengers as a Tropical Storm had resulted in many cancellations that day. It was eventually re-routed MIA-MBJ-KIN. Memories.
Quoting OB1504 (Thread starter): Posing with the signed certificate commemorating JM's final flight into MIA.
Quoting BWIA 772 (Reply 1): Seriously sad to see MIA go but the airline has to do what is has to survive so good luck JM!
Agree.
Quoting A340Jamaica (Reply 2): A sad day indeed. MIA was one of the two original JM routes, the other being of course none other than JFK!!! Hopefully, JM will be back in better times
Quoting PRAirbus (Reply 5): Wow! Those JM employees look very happy, how odd! I guess these are signs of the times. JM prefers FLL for its lower costs but MIA is a major connecting hub...I guess JM has become a VFR carrier in the South Florida market to quit MIA and stay in FLL. In FLL they face competition from Spirit I wonder how that affects JMs fares. MIA is a prestige destination; that's like flying to EWR instead of JFK or STN versus LHR...does not make sense.
Quoting HummingBird (Reply 9): Correct..The CEO stated the costs at FLL are 15-20% lower compared to MIA..
Quoting HummingBird (Reply 9): Which is beneficial to AA...Their three flights from MIA to KIN carry a substantial amount of connecting traffic..In addition they have a large AAdavantage presence in the Kingston area..
Quoting HummingBird (Reply 9): The market is large to support all three carriers.
Quoting HummingBird (Reply 9): Correct...In addition, the Jamaicans who live in Miami-Dade live closer to FLL when compared to MIA..
Quoting MarcoPoloWorld (Reply 10): Very odd indeed. A flag carrier abandoning its most important station and a world hub
Well airlines are in the business to make money, not to have the distinction of flying to a ' world class hub ' . Believe me if the loads/yields of the MIA to KIN route was equal to the JFK-KIN route or even the FLL-KIN route they would still be at MIA. The fact is Cargo operations make money for JM out of MIA and passenger loads/yields are far better at FLL so why not capitalize on your strengths and save while doing so ?
That secondary suburban ( mega sprawl ) airfield is where JM makes money in South Florida as puzzling as it may sound to you. Notice the increased frequencies that will be on FLL-KIN by summer ?
Quoting MarcoPoloWorld (Reply 10): enjoy the alleged 15-20 % that you think you will save by moving yourself out of your main near-US hub.
It is not an ' alleged ' savings. It is a known fact that it is cheaper for an airline to operate out of FLL than MIA. Don't get me wrong as I am not undermining the importance of the city on Miami as a business, tourist and shopping destination ( and so much more as a matter of fact ) but the majority of Jamaicans in South Florida are closer to FLL. Makes logical and economic sense to me as much as I would have love to see the MIA route remain.
Quoting BW424 (Reply 12): .I remember the days when you always saw a JM aircraft at the gate,sometimes even two when flying into MIA in the past.
Quoting A340jamaica (Reply 13): Yes, in the past some days there were 6 or 7 flights per day to MIA especially during the busy periods like Christmas. Some of those flights were 250 seater A300 B4 200s. Surreal indeed, their original route!!
Very true. The A300 was a regular operating as JM 021,020,025 & 024. The A310 also made these rotations.
Quoting Dc863 (Reply 14): Sorry to see such a staple carrier for MIA go.
Same here but I would by prefer JM to fly FLL-KIN and make money than to operate MIA-KIN with only 30 to 40 passengers. Sometimes even less !
Quoting Jmbweeboy (Reply 15): Incomprehensible to me JM would give up on Miami.
Its pretty simple....JM makes money from Cargo Ops at MIA and have far better loads/yields at FLL ( which again may I add is a more cost effective airport to operate out of from South Florida ). I may appear to be overly defensive of the MIA axing but I am just being supportive of the cost cutting measures that they have implemented to ensure its survival. At the end of the day FLL makes money for JM. At the moment MIA doesn't. I can also assure you that many JM loyals in MIA will make the trip to FLL to catch the love-bird to take them home when they need to travel so I am really not worried about them shifting focus to FLL.
OB1504 From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 2535 posts, RR: 9 Reply 18, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 4095 times:
The video of the arrival finally finished uploading: (on the third try)
OB1504 From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 2535 posts, RR: 9 Reply 19, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 4059 times:
F9Animal From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 4321 posts, RR: 34 Reply 23, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 3167 times:
I would rather see JM leave Miami, than to leave all together. Thanks for the awesome pics! I had no idea what their uniforms look like. They sure look Jamaicaish!!!! LOL! I do like the pilots hats. Reminds me of Pan Am's. Speaking of pilots hats, I thought Pan Am had the best looking hats. Something about white really makes them look sharp.
I have not followed JM that much. Is Michael Conway still running the show for them? I know he went there after National folded.
AirJamaica From Jamaica, joined Aug 2006, 2082 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 3134 times:
Quoting F9Animal (Reply 23): Is Michael Conway still running the show for them?
Not any more. His stint was very short lived.
flight attendants prepare for take off........
25 A340Jamaica: That alone is proof that JM or some other carrier will eventually return to MIA from KIN. There is enough MIA specific O&D to support two carriers ev
26 AirJamaica: Agree 100%. FLL is one route you wont see JM abandoning anytime soon. Competition or no competition. Agree.
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! Seriously sad to see MIA go but the airline has to do what is has to survive so good luck JM!
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