AIR Jamaica yesterday announced that it had reached an agreement with its pilots for salary increases totalling 9.5 per cent for the period November 1, 2000 to October 30, 2005.

“In the first two years of the contract, the pilots will receive an increase of 4.5 per cent in their salary and for the remaining three years, the increase will be five per cent,” the airline said in a news release.

According to the national carrier, under the contract, the more than 200 pilots have agreed to a number of concessions that will enhance their productivity and contribute to the company’s cost-cutting programme. “These include a reduction in overtime costs and a reduction in certain categories of benefits,” the release said.

Yesterday, Christopher Zacca, Air Jamaica’s deputy chairman and CEO, commended the negotiating teams for the high levels of co-operation and understanding displayed during the talks.

According to Zacca, this new agreement “fits in very well” with the airline’s new thrust to cut costs while achieving optimum productivity, “especially during this very turbulent period in the airline industry”.

He thanked the pilots for stepping in to assist the airline in its overall objective to reduce costs and improve productivity and said that while the operations of some airlines have been curtailed due to the actions of disgruntled pilots, Air Jamaica’s pilots were “professional in the execution of their duties, even during the most difficult times in the negotiation process”.

The spirit of this agreement, Zacca said, is an example of the loyalty and dedication of the entire Air Jamaica team to ensuring the company’s viability.