AIR Jamaica yesterday announced the further reduction of its aircraft to six and plans to shed more routes, starting next month.

The latest move by the cash-strapped national carrier comes in line with the Government’s schedule to take the airline off its book and handing over the operations to Caribbean Airlines.

“We are working with the Caribbean Airlines people with a view to completing by the end of March,” said Dennis Lalor, chairman of the Air Jamaica Divestment Committee at a luncheon meeting hosted last week by Observer chairman Gordon Butch Stewart at the newspaper’s Beechwood Avenue office in Kingston yesterday, Air Jamaica’s public relations office issued a press release stating that the suspension of service on several routes-driven by the departure of three aircraft from its fleet.

“By April, Air Jamaica will operate six aircraft; one A319, four A320’s and one A32,” said the release.

“This fleet reduction has become necessary as we seek to meet our financial obligations, however Air Jamaica continues to be the best choice for convenient schedule and excellent service as we have ensured that adequate capacity is provided on our core routes,” added Bruce Nobles, Air Jamaica’s president and CEO.

The routes to be suspended are New York (JFK) to Grenada and Jamaica to Orlando, effective March 9, 2010, while the airline plans to supend Jamaica to Chicago, Jamaica to Curacao, Jamaica to Havana and Jamaica to Nassau come April 12, 2010.

“By April 12, Air Jamaica will operate 161 weekly flights between Jamaica and five cities with daily service to Baltimore, Philadelphia and Toronto, three daily flights to New York (JFK) and four daily flights to Fort Lauderdale,” added the release.