Preparations are said to be underway for a meeting between US carrier American Airlines and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
This was confirmed yesterday by Director General of GCAA, Lt. Col Captain Egbert Field, who disclosed that the parties are hoping to meet sometime in June, however, a date has not yet been set.
On March 27, American Airlines, in a media release, had announced its intentions to introduce four new destinations to South America and Mexico.
Among those listed were flights between Miami and Georgetown, beginning December 20, 2018, with tickets going on sale from April 2.
However, Field, following the announcement, said that permission had not yet been sought by the airline.
This was reiterated in a subsequent report where the Director General said that he expected the US carrier will make contact with the GCAA so they could start the approval process for their operation.
The process as understood by Sunday Stabroek would include a review and validation of the approval to have an air operator’s certificate from their country of operation.
As American Airlines is an established company with an air operator’s licence and is already in operation, he said, “that process should not take us more than two to three weeks, a month on the outside to give approval.”
Field said that he did not see any obstacles in granting approval as the airline flies worldwide, but Guyana must be accorded the right to conduct its aviation business the way it is supposed to be conducted.