AIRTOURShas decided not to take legal action against Air Jamaica after receiving an apology from the airline about a comment made by one of the carrier’s senior executives (Travel Weekly October 4).
The operator threatened the action after the airline’s vice-president marketing and sales Allen Chastanet accused Airtours of extortion.
He was unhappy with Airtours Holidays managing director Chris Mottershead saying increased scheduled traffic could hit charter business to Jamaica. In the formal apology, Chastanet said: “There was no intention to cause any offence or implication of criminality to Airtours.”
Mottershead confirmed Airtours will not be taking legal action. “I was just pointing out the issues facing charter carriers,” he said. “If prices go down it could make it unprofitable for tour operators to continue serving the Caribbean.”
Airtours said it would welcome talks with Air Jamaica and other carriers about the issues raised by Mottershead.