Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad said a number of airline companies have express-ed an interest in providing flights to Guyana just as government has started to explore ways of starting a sustainable airline industry.
In a recent interview with the National Communications Network (NCN) Prashad said though government has the necessary skills and capabilities needed to manage an airline service it would advocate that the private sector assume such a venture.
The minister said a Greek company is one of many that had proposed a flight route from North America to the Caribbean during discussions with President Bharrat Jagdeo. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release both the airline and investors will be based in Guyana. Prashad said the parties are currently examining “the paper work” with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority and an investment is expected to materialise.
Another airline ‘Jet Blue’ has also indicated an interest and is engaged in discussions to provide direct flights from New York, St Lucia and Barbados to Guyana. The airline currently serves Jamaica, Barbados and St Lucia. The Dutch Antillean Airlines (ALM) has also said it is interested in serving Guyana. Prashad said the airline currently operates from Amsterdam to Paramaribo and it has expressed an interest in flying from Amsterdam to Paramaribo to Georgetown and then return to Amsterdam. Also, Suriname Airways (SLM) has said it would like to fly from Miami to Parama-ribo and from Georgetown to Miami. If this idea comes to fruition, Prashad said it would be the first time that Guyana will offer a direct flight from Georgetown to Miami as other airlines travel from Georgetown to Trinidad then to Miami.
Government is also examining other travel service options to deal with the influx of visitors expected for the Christmas season. The ministry is in discussions with some private investors who conduct airline charters from Toronto and New York to Guyana, the minister said. Prashad also noted that the agreement the president signed with Venezuela to source aviation fuel at a cheaper cost will be of tremendous benefit to Guyana. He noted that this would result in a significant reduction in airfares.
