Air Jamaica will drop its Kingston-London Heathrow route, on which it reportedly was losing US$20 - US$25 million annually, and sold its LHR landing and takeoff slots to Virgin Atlantic Airways, according to media reports out of London and Jamaica.

Virgin Atlantic beat out rival British Airways to replace Air Jamaica's LHR-Kingston service and will operate two weekly flights on the route beginning this fall. Virgin Atlantic currently operates two weekly London Gatwick-Montego Bay flights and will continue that service.

Virgin Atlantic will place the Air Jamaica code on its flights and jointly sell seats on the routes with the Caribbean carrier. BA operates thrice-weekly LHR-Kingston service but reportedly was seeking to add flights and code-share with Air Jamaica.