Permission for the seventh commercial passenger flight from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to Miami Inter-national Airport was granted on Wednesday by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF).
A notice posted on social media via the British High Commission page informed that the Eastern Airlines flight is scheduled to leave Cheddi Jagan International Airport at 3.30 pm today.
According to the airline’s website, the flight is non-stop and priced at US$1,247.
“The flight is open only to US citizens, legal permanent residents of the USA and third-country nationals with a valid visa or ESTA for transit,” the British High Commission stated in their notice posted on Wednesday.
Prospective passengers were also informed that they can apply for the ESTA via the web-link provided: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/.
The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an automated system that determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.
Passengers were also reminded that in addition to this booking, they will need to book onward connections from Miami.
“You should be aware this is a commercial arrangement and as much as we would like to, we cannot be responsible for delays or cancellations that might take place,” the notice further advised passenger.
Passengers who have travelled to the UK, European Union Schengen Area or the Republic of Ireland in the last 14 days will not be allowed to in transit in the US.
On Sunday, the US Embassy in correspondence to citizens of the United States who are marooned here due to COVID-19 travel restrictions informed that the flight was not granted permission to leave Guyana.
“We requested clearance for a seventh commercial relief flight to operate from Georgetown to Miami next Friday May 22, 2020. However, we regret to inform you that it was not approved,” the US Embassy told interested citizens in an alert that was released on Sunday on social media.
However, Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Egbert Field clarified on Tuesday that that was not the case and noted that the application was still being looked at.
The GCAA head explained to Stabroek News that the application is among others that are being assessed by the NCTF.
Field remarked that because of other pressing demands arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCTF cannot solely focus all its attention on flight schedules.
He also reminded that in the past the Task Force has granted approval for repatriation flights up to a day before the flight was scheduled for.
