Orville Builds Latin America

     Sometimes an air cargo executive is so good at what he or she does that the job looks easy to an outsider or somebody who doesn’t know any better.
    It has always been that way with the real professionals.
    The way Pelé played football (soccer) or the elegant ease with which Alex Rodriquez swings a baseball bat is a good way to describe how Orville Hart handles the critical role he plays in the fortunes of Air Jamaica as that carrier’s manager of cargo sales based in Miami, Florida.
    It has always been that way for Orvillle, a likeable fellow with a laid back attitude who comes off something like a Mohair Sam crooner of the 1940s.
    Bing Crosby meets Bob Marley as a Jamaican accent mellow sound comes out from Orville no matter what the situation—good times and bad.
    No doubt recently the times have been changing as Jamaica has been rocked with hurricane and continual downward pressure on airline yields.
    But through it all Orville keeps his customers close and business moving via a variety of all-cargo offerings ex-Miami that Air Jamaica operates.
    “Our focus right now is to utilize all available space on our thrice weekly B767-200 Freighter Flights to Jamaica.
    “Our current freighter schedule offers easy access to onward destinations via Jamaica and our Tuesday freighter
is unbeatable in terms of availability and getting goods to and from markets.
    Air Jamaica is changing.
    There is a new government in Jamaica after The Jamaica Labor Party defeated the ruling Peoples National Party (that was in power for over 18 years) in the general elections held on September 3.
    Now a noticeable degree of optimism and hope is taking hold that changes will drive up new investment to the island nation, boost exports/imports and increase tourism traffic by air and ocean.
    Already the talk is to improve the country’s economy and overall infrastructure.
    The freighter schedules operate from Miami to Kingston and onto Montego Bay as mentioned every Thursday and Sunday.
    But the Tuesday freighter offers some special opportunities.
    We like that Orville Hart knows when it is his time of year.
    Air Jamaica’s Cargo business has dipped a bit recently as the carrier has struggled (along with everyone else) with fuel, labor and other legacy costs.
    “Air Jamaica is working to generate business from South America by positioning Jamaica as an alternative to Miami for air traffic emanating from countries like Venezuela and Brazil into the United States.
    “We have the dynamics to continue to develop as cargo hub of the Caribbean,” Orville insists.
    “Jamaica freight rates, number of flights from our centralized location in the Caribbean and Latin America are unbeatable.
    “Jamaica operates from a position of strength amongst countries, as a good neighbor in the region and throughout the hemisphere.
    “With new investments in airport infrastructure including a giant reefer now in operation for perishables in Kingston, Jamaica is also drawing attention from shippers who recognize that with a huge number of flights throughout the Americas, Jamaica is a faster and mostly far cheaper way to move air cargo throughout the region.
    “In the perishables business to Europe for example, we can compete very favorably with Asian destinations.
    “In addition to our regular freighter schedule in and out of Miami, Air Jamaica Cargo now provides ad hoc lift utilizing AN12, B727, DC8 or larger aircraft based on customer demand.
    “Full logistics support in routing shipments and scheduling charters is also available from various global points of origin to the Caribbean.
    “Best of all service extends to ground handling for all charters and our freighter frequencies in Jamaica.
    “Our customers know we guarantee more frequency and cargo capacity into Jamaica than any other airline, and the willingness to always go the extra mile.
    “To us, air cargo is not just a sometimes thing,” Orville says.
    “So our menu of services works well for individuals, the micro-business sector and large corporations.
    “Air Jamaica Cargo is the perishables expert moving the lion’s share of Jamaica's agricultural produce to North America, ensuring local growers and exporters meet their deadlines, with goods that arrive on time with no compromise in quality.
    “With over 270 flights each week to major destinations in North America, Europe and the Caribbean, Air Jamaica offers tremendous cargo capacity. “Affordable and competitive rates are available for cargo being moved on our regular passenger flights, as well as on our scheduled freighter service, operating on our busiest route between Jamaica and Miami.
    “Air Jamaica also provides more non-stop flights to Jamaica from Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York (JFK), Orlando, and Philadelphia in the United States; Toronto in Canada; and from London in the United Kingdom to Montego Bay and Kingston and intra-regional service with flights between Jamaica and the Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, Cuba, Curacao, Grand Cayman, Grenada and St. Lucia.
ohart@airjamaica.com
Geoffrey