EL AL & AIR JAMAICA are two airlines moving in opposite directions. The Israeli government has effectively privatised El Al by selling 40% to Knafaim-Arkia Holdings the owner of the successful private airline and aircraft leasing company Arkia. Knafaim is seeking to sell Arkia in order to comply with regulations of the anti-trust authority. Under its new management the airline will be seeking an alignment with one of the major airline alliances. El Al currently has code-sharing agreements with American Airlines, Delta and Swiss. In the Caribbean the movement is in the opposite direction, Air Jamaica coming back into ”temporary” government ownership following its majority shareholder decision to pull out of the airline. Jamaican government sources say the debt-laden carrier will be restructured and then sold. In the meantime unprofitable routes to Antigua will stop today and later on in the month flights to Manchester and London/Havana will also be dropped to save money.
http://www.elal.co.il
http://www.airjamaica.com