GOVERNMENT officials yesterday refused to comment on media reports that Virgin Atlantic plans to add two flights a week from Gatwick to Kingston, in anticipation of Air Jamaica’s decision to drop its London service.

Yesterday, the Telegraph newspaper in the United Kingdom reported that Air Jamaica was soon to announce an end to its daily flights between Heathrow and Kingston, replacing them with a code-sharing deal with Virgin Atlantic.

The Telegraph also reported that Virgin Atlantic had also acquired Air Jamaica’s Heathrow take-off and landing slots for an undisclosed sum.

Yesterday, Jamaica’s transport minister, Robert Pickersgill, said he had not seen the newspaper report, but had heard of it. He would not say, however, if Virgin would start flying to Kingston, and instead directed all queries to the finance minister, Omar Davies.

“Any comment on whether that is so or not would have to come through the minister of finance,” Pickersgill told the Observer.

He said while airline matters in terms of transport would fall under his portfolio, the day-to-day operations of the national airline did not fall under his mantle. “The day-to-day operation would be reported to him (Davies),” he said.

Pressed further to confirm whether or not the national carrier would end its service to the United Kingdom, Pickersgill said: “I am not making any comment on that; call the minister of finance.”

Davies could not be reached for a comment as he was said to be in a meeting up until press time.

Dennis Morrison, chairman of Airports Authority, also admitted to having knowledge of the UK article, but said it was a matter for Air Jamaica to comment on.

He said if Virgin Atlantic was flying to Kingston then the Civil Aviation Authority would be the one to grant such permission.

Efforts to get a comment from Air Jamaica were also unsuccessful. Marjorie Robinson, the airline’s community relations and promotions manager, said she had to consult with Air Jamaica’s head for a response on the matter.

In the meantime, a civil aviator told the Observer that while he was not sure if the permission had been granted, a proposal was made for a licence for Virgin to fly to Kingston.

“If this licence is to be granted it will have to be published in the media at least two to three months before, but I have not seen that being done,” he said.

At the same time, a pilot employed to Air Jamaica told the Observer that while nothing official has been communicated to them there has been inside talks that the last flight will leave the island for the United Kingdom on October 27.

Checks with Virgin reservation also could not confirm the intended flights as a representative said her system would only allow her to make bookings on Virgin for travel out of Montego Bay.