Air traffic controllers in Jamaica have gone on strike, ending air services at the island’s two main airports as of 10 a.m. Thursday morning. The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), as reported by the Jamaica Star, says travel to and from the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay is being affected.
According to the report, workers have been in a dispute with the Ministry of Finance over salary negotiations, which began three months ago.
The Gleaner in Jamaica says that upwards of 28 flights to Montego Bay have already been canceled, with an American Airlines flight that was en-route from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport was diverted to Miami, while a flight from Charlotte, North Carolina turned back. Additionally, an Air Canada flight, which was en-route to the island, was also forced to return to Toronto.
Several flights, including those from Frontier from Atlanta, Sun Wing from Toronto and JetBlue out of New York, were able to land this morning before the workers walked out.
The Gleaner adds that it’s unclear when the air traffic controllers will return to work. As a result, Howard Greaves, director, air traffic management at JCAA, suspended all services at both airports, including departures.
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