Two regional airlines – the Dominican Republic-based Sky Cana and Suriname’s Fly Always – will be offering flights from Guyana to Canada with the former set to begin service from June 1st.
Sky Cana’s entrance to the Guyana market was announced yesterday by President Irfaan Ali who also informed, via his Facebook page, that he had met with the company’s CEO, Frank Diaz Gonzalez, at the Office of the President and that he welcomed the company. The President’s Facebook page also displayed photos of Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill and Director of Presidential Affairs, Marcia Nadir-Sharma at the event.
Edghill later told Stabroek News that Sky Cana submitted its application last week and that it is being processed. Edghill also stated that even as they commence operations here, the process of ensuring their application and security bond meet necessary regulatory requirements will be done. He also announced that Fly Always’ application had been approved but government is yet to advise when they will commence flying this route.
“Sky Cana made an application last week and that is being processed. They are going to start with a service that allows them as if you are doing a charter, and then other services that goes with the application. They have not done that part as yet, but all of that will be something like any other airline that wants to operate within the route. Everything that is required in the regulations for the operations of a service, including the safeguard of a bond, to protect passengers and the rest of it, will apply…,” he said.
“We have already approved Fly Always to operate the Canada route. We have not given a date when they will start operating. That is something they had applied for and has already been approved. Fly Always would have made the application, it was processed and Cabinet has offered its no-objection. We will follow through with all the details and this will include the bond, etcetera, that any other airline that operates will need,” he added. Sky Cana, Edghill said, will operate a one-stop service to Canada via Punta Cana, Dominican Republic while Fly Always will operate a non-stop service from Guyana to Canada. Sky Cana is expected to fly to Canada from Guyana three times weekly.
President Ali said that Sky Cana is a Dominican Republic Company that has 110 daily flights out of Punta Cana. Its fleet includes 3- AIRBUS A321; 4- AIRBUS A320; 1- AIRBUS A330-300 and 1- AIRBUS A330-200. Sky Cana will also fly to Houston. Fly Always will come from Suriname to Guyana then onward to Canada and for the return flight will stop here first before proceeding to its home country. The airline has been operating here since 2021 with service to Suriname and to Cuba.
Guyana has also been trying to interest Canadian carriers such as Air Canada and WestJet to enter the market.
