UPDATE: Air traffic controllers in Jamaica are back on the job after a strike on Thursday. Several flights were canceled; however, operations are expected to return to normal as the workers went back to work Thursday evening.
(CMR) A large number of flights to Jamaica, including a Cayman Airways afternoon flight, were canceled on Thursday, 12 May, as the island's air traffic controllers walked off the job.
Persons who are planning to travel from the Cayman Islands to Jamaica this weekend will have to wait to see if the situation changes.
Services at the Sangster International Airport in St James and Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston were suspended starting at 10:00 am, Jamaica Gleaner reported.
There are reports that at least 28 flights destined for Donald Sangster International Airport have been canceled.
According to the Gleaner, both airports were advised of the development this morning by a letter signed by Howard Greaves, director of air traffic management at the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA).
Greaves said due to limited staff available to work at the Kingston Air Traffic Control Centre, the JCAA was forced to suspend services.
This is expected to impact all arrivals and departures at the two main international airports.
“We will return to normal operations when the situation is resolved,” Greaves said.
The air traffic controllers are protesting due to failed salary negotiations with the Ministry of Finance.
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