Port Royal businesses hurt by AA crash
THE crash of American Airlines flight 331 is reverberating in Port Royal and businesses say they are feeling the effects. One company is even threatening to go as far as file a lawsuit for what it alleges are revenues lost as a result of the crash.
The AA flight from Miami overshot the runway at the Norman Manley International Airport and crash-landed near the Caribbean Sea on December 23, two days before Christmas Day. The plane which was carrying 148 persons on board, skidded across the road at the Palisadoes strip which leads to Port Royal. More than 40 people were injured and many more were hospitalised. But in the days following the crash the country turned its eyes on the near-tragedy that could have resulted in the loss of lives and away from the far-reaching effects on those who must live with the result.
The crash not only threatened the lives and livelihood of those on board the ill-fated carrier, but many others whose survival depended on the road that leads to Port Royal.
The road was ordered closed immediately following the crash, and on Saturday, December 26 — Boxing Day — it was closed from 10:45 pm until 3:00 am the following morning to facilitate the removal of the tail section of the American Airlines aircraft. There were also scheduled closures at 10 pm each night to allow for the security of the area and the removal of other sections of the downed plane.
According to business operators in Port Royal, the road closures have caused a major disruption in commercial activity in the small East Kingston community.
Gloria’s Rendezvous, the town’s definitive casual dining restaurant, reported a sharp decline in Boxing Day diners this year compared to years prior. And Angella Linton, owner and manager of the seafood eatery, says she lost a lot of business over the weekend and into last week.
“Remember, it was a holiday and this year everything was slow,” notes Linton. “The holiday, which was Boxing Day, is usually one of our busiest days and we had persons cancelling.”
Linton adds that ‘walk-in’ diners were either prevented from coming to Port Royal, or were discouraged by the news of the planned road closures.
On Boxing Day, Linton reveals, two major orders were cancelled, including that of a party coming from Montego Bay to enjoy the famous seafood of the district, and another party of 20 persons who had to turn back after hearing of the closure.
“They mess up the holiday bad, man. Not only us, but also the fish vendors and others — they really suffered,” she says.
Gloria’s opens until 1 am on weekends and holidays, and until 11 pm on weekdays. But Linton tells Sunday Finance that the 10 pm closure of the road also forced her to close her business at that time, hence eroding revenues.
“I think it’s really inconsiderate of them. They don’t consider Port Royal as nothing,” Linton laments. “It was on the radio when we heard that the road would be closed. So if you were not listening to the radio you wouldn’t have heard.”
Sales Manager of Morgan’s Harbour Hotel, Callisha Bryan, argues that the total lock down of roads wasn’t necessary and it cost her company “close to $500,000 over the period” from December 23rd to last week when the rules were relaxed.
She says that on the night of the plane crash, Morgan’s Harbour was hosting a function with the RJR Group, and when news of the crash broke and guests attempted to leave, they were turned back by the police.
“I had to give up my rooms at minimum cost,” says Bryan. “Everything was offered at minimum cost because the truth is that it was an emergency situation that (our guests and staff) could not help and they did not plan for.”
Exemplifying the magnitude of revenues lost by Morgan’s Harbour as a result of the crash, Bryan says that a group of 75 persons had made reservations at the Hotel but had to cancel when news broke of the crash. That one cancellation cost the Hotel almost $200,000, she says, adding that other persons also cancelled their reservations over time.
“My business was badly affected. All of my clients said they couldn’t get through,” Bryan reveals.
Those who made it through when the roads opened had another issue to contend with, says Bryan — They had to shorten their dining in order to make the road closure deadline.
“There was a mad dash. People just had to leave and they left my restaurant like a hurricane went through it,” says the Morgan’s Harbour sales manager. “That’s not good for me because I have procedures to close up and my restaurant opens at 7 am. So when it is left like that overnight, imagine what happens in the morning when the next set of staff comes in.”
Like Linton, Bryan believes that the way the situation was handled showed a lack of respect and concern for the interests of the people of Port Royal.
“You think they could do that to businesses in New Kingston?” she asks. “You think they could lock down New Kingston like that?”
Owner of Fisherman’s Cabin, Lorraine Dobson, says she might just file a suit against American Airline for its part in her loss to her business.
“I was thinking how we could go about getting it done,” she informs Sunday Finance.
Dobson says diners at Fisherman’s Cabin, which opens from 4 pm to 12 pm Monday to Wednesday and all day Thursday through Saturday, declined from 100 to 150 persons, to about 50 persons on the weekend after the crash.
“Boxing Day was when we normally have a busy period and it didn’t happen this year,” says Dobson.
Bryan agrees that someone should be held accountable but says the fault is not with the airline, but the Jamaican security system.