AIR Jamaica yesterday said it had completed its rationalisation programme which included the replacement of four Airbus A310 aircraft with more fuel efficient planes that would result in annual savings of J$1 billion.

“We have replaced our four A310s, which have proven to be less cost-effective than desired, with an A320 and three A321s, which will cut operating costs by as much as J$1 billion annually,” Christopher Zacca, the airline’s deputy chairman told guests at a dedication ceremony at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston.

“These aircraft have been leased from the US for two months now,” Zacca announced.

The function, held at the Air Jamaica hangar, saw two aircraft being named the Spirit of Mandeville and the Spirit of Spanish Town in keeping with the airline’s policy of naming its planes for Jamaican towns and cities.

An exception was made in 2001 when the national airline named one of its planes Spirit of America, in a show of solidarity with the people of the United States after the September 11 terrorist attacks in which passenger planes were used to bomb the World Trade Centre in New York and the Pentagon building in Washington D C.

Yesterday, Zacca suggested that Air Jamaica was now on the middle ground to recovery after shaving costs, and told his guests of diplomats, local politicians, business executives, Air Jamaica frequent flyers and the press that the airline would embark on an aggressive marketing campaign to capture more business.

“We have planned an intensive marketing strategy for the next 11 to 15 months that will broadcast our first class services and status to the world,” Zacca said.