With the addition of two Cessna Grand Caravans to its fleet and a helicopter service on the horizon, domestic airline Air Services Limited (ASL) continues to expand its operations and has pledged to create additional employment opportunities for locals.
The airline, which offers a number of services in addition to daily flights across the country, now has 9 Cessna Grand Caravans in its fleet, all of which were sourced from Central America, namely Belize and Nicaragua. ASL now has 23 aircraft in its fleet and the two newer aircraft will be used mainly to enhance the airline’s weekly flights to Lethem as well as its tourist flights.
Speaking at a brief ceremony yesterday morning where the entity unveiled a new state-of-the-art departure lounge in the name of its founder Yacoob Ally, Operations Manager of the airline, Annette Arjoon-Martins told a gathering that the improvement is reflective of the airline’s commitment to aiding the development of the country.
She told the gathering, which included Opposition Leader David Granger, Transport Minister Robeson Benn and Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, that as Guyana’s economic expansion continues, ASL too has expanded its own operations in order to keep pace with the increased demand for safe and affordable local air service. She said the company has 180 employees on its payroll, all of whom play a key role in its 150 flights per week.
She said the airline connects travellers to 60 airstrips across the country and according to her, while the statistics tell the story of the airline, “it is also the story of Guyana’s development – we are a reflection of what has taken place in our country”.
She highlighted aspects of the entity’s expansion over the years, including its flight school, the only and first of its type, which offers pilot training from the private pilot to the commercial pilot licence and also instrument rating accreditation. Having started with one flight instructor in 2003, the school now has flight instructors from the United States, Jamaica and also Syria and Egypt.
Arjoon-Martins said that in June this year, ASL received permission from the government as well as security clearance from the Home Affairs Ministry to operate a helicopter service. She said ASL is sourcing a Bell 206 helicopter to carry out its operations.
Benn, who gave the feature address, said the government and the ministry have placed specific interest on domestic aviation. He said Guyana’s sovereign landmass is very large and it is important that contact and a form of transport are always available to keep the people together.
Benn stated that ASL is among the airlines transitioning the transportation sector, enhancing their operations from the Britten Norman Islander type aircraft to the standard of the larger Cessna Caravan model, which he deemed significant as it relates to safety and comfort. Benn noted that the Caravan is now the “standard and now work has to be done to enhance the industry”.
He said that at the moment there is a significant shortage of pilots for domestic aviation and the government is working with ASL and its flight school to further improve the number of pilots in the country.
According to the subject minister, the government has been working to improve the standard of the domestic airline industry and mention was made of the EU-funded Ogle expansion project which is still ongoing. He said that at the moment there are approximately 6 companies based at Ogle which operate 38 aircraft out of the airport.
In 2011, approximately 145,000 persons travelled via the Ogle airport, a significant increase when compared to the 97,000 who used the airport the previous year. In addition, 20.2 million pounds of cargo were transported via the airport last year, a 49% increase compared to the 13.5 million pounds which were moved in the previous year.
Benn said he was heartened at the figure, which he noted indicated that there is significant movement in the mining, forestry and tourism sectors.
The Transport Minister said the government is also working to address the price of aviation gas, which lies at US$6.8 per gallon at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and US$7.21 per gallon at Ogle.
He said, “the prices are a significant constraint in terms of developing the sector and the industry… We want to work with the industry and the fuel suppliers to see how we could bring down the prices for fuel.”
ASL is currently constructing its own fuel farm which will be of a standard comparable to what exists in more developed countries. The facility will aid the airline’s operations as well as the operations of other airlines at Ogle.
Last year, the company was embroiled in a bitter dispute with the management of the airport over its decision to import fuel to undertake its operations. The dispute climaxed when one of its managers drove a truck laden with fuel into the locked gates of the airport.
There had been ongoing discussions between the airport’s management, the airline and the Transport Ministry even though similar standoffs continued after the initial incident. To date there have not been any disclosures as regards the outcome of an investigation which was undertaken over the incident.
