Miami-based Amerijet is moving some back-office functions to Trinidad and Tobago to save money and make it easier to fill positions.
The cargo airline announced Thursday that it had opened a new branch office in Port of Spain to handle financial and other management functions. The company has conducted air cargo operations at Piarco International Airport for 22 years, but the new office won’t be involved in sales or flights. Subsidiary Amerijet Caribbean Express provides cargo handling services for the freighters at the airport.
The shared services center has room for 54 employees covering seven departments, plus management offices.
Amerijet said in response to a FreightWaves query that the decision to relocate offshore was made because it is difficult to hire qualified employees in South Florida.
“Wage inflation and rising costs of living across South Florida make it very difficult and expensive to recruit experienced employees here in Miami,” the company said. Accounting, auditing and potentially other functions will be shifted to Trinidad and Tobago.
Port of Spain was chosen for the new office because the country’s proximity to the U.S., common language and close time zone simplify communication and collaboration with headquarters’ staff and because the government recently passed legislation to encourage foreign direct investment, management said.
Many U.S. airlines and freight forwarders operate similar centers outside the country.
Amerijet has rapidly expanded during the past three years beyond its original Caribbean and Latin America service area and now boasts a fleet of 23 Boeing 767 and 757 freighters. It serves Trinidad with a minimum of four flights per week.
The move to streamline processes follows last month’s decision, first reported by FreightWaves, to dismantle Amerijet’s freight forwarding unit, iTN Worldwide, because it wasn’t a key revenue driver.
Airlines across the board are scrutinizing operations to save money during a period of weak demand.
Click here for more FreightWaves and American Shipper articles by Eric Kulisch.
Twitter: @ericreports; LinkedIn: Eric Kulisch; ekulisch@www.freightwaves.com
RELATED STORIES:
Cargo airline Amerijet pulls plug on freight forwarding unit
Shipping line Maersk taps Amerijet for trans-Pacific air cargo expansion
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now