Cash-poor Air Jamaica selects new chief exec
It has yet to reveal whether the new hire is former Aloha CEO Banmiller
Financially strapped
Air Jamaica has selected a new chief executive, but former Aloha Airlines CEO David Banmiller declined to comment yesterday whether he has been chosen since the appointment is waiting final approval from the country's prime minister.
Banmiller, who was the only name identified last month on the four-person short list by Jamaica Sen. Don Wehby, said yesterday that he met with the airline's full board several weeks ago, as well as other interested parties, to discuss the current situation at Air Jamaica.
The airline has been bleeding cash at a rate of more than $100 million annually for the last several years, he said.
"The financial losses are certainly troubling to all concerned in this very critical time in the airline industry," Banmiller said.
Banmiller was CEO of Aloha from November 2004 until April of this year when Aloha converted its second of two bankruptcies under him from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 liquidation. Before coming to Aloha, Banmiller served as the executive vice president and chief operating officer at Air Jamaica.
"I previously enjoyed my time at Air Jamaica and wish for its continued success on behalf of just not the airline but its employees and the country," he said.
Wehby, who has direct responsibility for Air Jamaica, said earlier this week that he will announce the name of the new CEO on Monday.