Jamaicans angered by removal of iconic Air Jamaica memorabilia at NMIA

Many Jamaicans have taken to social media this week to voice their displeasure at the repainting of the former Air Jamaica memorabilia that would be seen leading up to the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston.

The Jamaica Aviation Club recently shared a photo of the now repainted tail of Air Jamaica and people got mad – according to some patriotic citizens, the memento has been completely ruined.

“I’M MAD ABOUT THIS! That was a sentimental piece of our history that was repainted. Why tamper with something that meant so much to so many?” asked Sandra M. Taylor Wiggan.

Other Jamaicans joined her in protesting the deletion of the once iconic Air Jamaica logo and its colours.

“W[h]ere there is no vision…. The [fall] and rise of COPA airlines shows the potential of what has been lost at Air J,” said Trevor Everton Barrett.

“No More Air Jamaica…#sad saw the work being done last week,” David McFarlane explained.

“Finally the air Jamaica sign is gone the government sell out air Jamaica so finally the sign change we owned nothing so finally it goes,” added Shayne Baker.

Suzanne Bradley said “Sad is correct! It is as though every little bit of Air Jam is being washed away –they (whoever) may try to remove Air Jam, but they can never ever take away our wonderful memories of a time gone by!”

On the other hand, there were several Jamaicans who weren’t so critical of the work done on what was touted as the ‘national bird.’

“It is time now to move on from Air Jamaica. New era now…,” Rayon Wayne noted.

Oneil Lewin assured “Jamaica will get better from this, Air Jamaica in all its time flying on subsidy and bailouts never made a profit…it was [a] nice feeling to have an airline but that’s all it was…feelings.”

Odaran Maninthehills Elgob asked “It never meant anything to me then, and it surely mean[s] nothing now! Who cares?”

Named in honour of National Hero and Premier of Jamaica, Norman Washington Manley, the NMIA is operated by NMIA Airports Limited since October 2003 on a 30-year concession agreement with the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), under specific performance targets.