Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says Caribbean Airlines remains critical to Jamaica’s tourism and regional connectivity even as the airline faces mounting pressure to become profitable following an ultimatum from Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Persad-Bissessar told the airline’s management they have two years to make the state-owned carrier profitable or leave, a move that has already been followed by route cuts including services to the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, as well as Fort Lauderdale to Montego Bay and Fort Lauderdale to Kingston flights.

Speaking to Caribbean Pulse on May 13 on the sidelines of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Antigua and Barbuda, Bartlett said Jamaica continues to view Caribbean Airlines as an essential part of the region’s transportation network.

“Well you know Caribbean Airlines is part of our airlift security arrangement and as you know island states rely on air travel,” Bartlett said.

“We normally say in Jamaica they don’t swim to Jamaica so we have to work closely with our airline partners and that’s what we do.”

Jamaica owns a minority shareholding in Caribbean Airlines following the merger of former national carrier Air Jamaica with the Trinidadian-based airline.

Bartlett said discussions are ongoing about how best to ensure the carrier continues operating regional routes despite growing economic challenges.

“So conversations are happening and you know we’re talking to see how best we can ensure that the little piece of the Caribbean that flies continue to fly because it is important to us,” he said.

The tourism minister said regional air connectivity is vital not only for Caribbean tourism, but also for connections through major United States gateways.

He also pointed to rising fuel prices linked to conflict in the Middle East as another challenge facing regional carriers.

“That makes it a little difficult because one of the things that have enabled Caribbean Airlines to fly is special price arrangements for fuel.”

Bartlett said he could not yet determine the full extent of the impact current geopolitical tensions may have on airline operations, but expressed hope that regional connectivity would not suffer a major blow.

“I’m not sure how that will now be impacted by what’s happening in the Middle East the extent of the impact. I know it will impact somewhat I don’t know whether or not that would be a very decisive blow and I hope not because I really think that the region needs the connectivity,” he said.

Bartlett also highlighted the growth in regional travel to Jamaica over the last two years, which he attributed to stronger inter-island connectivity.

“We’ve been seeing it because even tourism in Jamaica from the Caribbean has grown significantly over the last two years and that is because we have become the most connected destination in the Caribbean,” he said.

According to Bartlett, Jamaica is connected to nearly every Caribbean territory through airlines including Caribbean Airlines, LIAT, interCaribbean Airways, Arajet and Sunrise Airways.