Jamaica Air Freighters marked a milestone by launching its first flight to a CARIFTA country, with a DC7CF aircraft departing Norman Manley Airport for Trinidad, carrying $15,000 worth of Jamaican-manufactured water boots. Chartered by Mahfood’s Commercial Limited, this shipment included 6,000 pairs of boots from West Indies Synthetics, primarily ordered by Trinidad's Bata Shoe Company.

Published Wednesday, May 16, 1973

1st JAF flight to Carifta country

Jamaica Air Freighters yesterday sent its first flight to a CARIFTA country when its DC7CF aircraft left Norman Manley Airport with a cargo of Jamaican manufactured goods for Trinidad.

The aircraft was chartered by Mahfood’s Commercial Limited, distributors of Jamaican-made garments and footwear.

A shipment of $15,000 worth of water boots made by West Indies Synthetics and marketed by its seller, Mahfood’s Commercial, was sent consisting of 6,000 pairs.

Mr Ray Mahfood, technical director of Mahfood’s Commercial, who saw off the consignment, said the majority of the shipment was ordered by Bata Shoe Company of Trinidad.

This meant a breakthrough for the local company because previously Bata of Trinidad was supplied by manufacturers in Belgium and the United Kingdom.

Mr Tony Myers of Jamaica Air Freighters said the shipment was also significant because it was the first time Jamaica Air Freighters was flying carto to a CARIFTA territory.

The company, which was locally-owned and came into operation a fortnight ago, had only operated to Miami.

Mr Myers said the response from the commercial sector had been encouraging so far and his company hoped to expand its charter service to North and Central America.

Jamaica Air Freighters operates a charter service with a 4-engined DC 7 CF aircraft which has a cargo capacity of 40,000 lb.

Leaving with the flight yesterday were Mr Myers and Mr Harry Warton of Newport Warehousing.

Mr Warton will be supervising the loading of a consignment from Trinidad which is expected on the return flight due in at the Norman Manley airport today.

Jamaica Air Freighters is a wholly-owned Jamaican company and is licensed to transport freight throughout the Caribbean and points in Central, South and North America.

The aircraft crew consists of Captain Robert Major, First Officer Frank Laing and Flight Engineer Leroy Stewart.

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