Launching its flights from Suriname to Guyana and Barbados is seen as a way of connecting the Guianas with the rest of the Caribbean.
This is according to Chief Executive Officer of Fly All Ways, Amichand Jhauw, who noted that the airline did an assessment of the market and found it to be very viable.
Fly All Ways using two Fokker 80-seater jets, officially launched their thrice weekly flights between Guyana, Suriname and Barbados on Tuesday, August 9, 2016. The Airline already flies to 18 other destinations around the Caribbean and South America.
At a ceremony hosted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson disclosed that the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) initiated a study to assess the economic impact of air transport on the Guyanese economy.
“For us in Guyana, air transport is critical for our international connectivity, as more than 81 percent of tourists come to Guyana by air. Also, not forgetting the role air transport plays in sub-sectors such as agriculture, forestry, mining and social services. In the future, we anticipate an even greater role as Guyana’s oil and gas sector develops,” Ferguson said.
Turning her attention to Fly All Ways operations here, the Minister highlighted that the introduction of new airlines into the aviation industry can only mean good for the Caribbean region and the people of the Caribbean, more so for those countries that are directly affected by the entrance of new services.
Ferguson said the start of this service has bridged both gaps -enhancing inter-Caribbean travel and also connecting Guyana and Suriname with Brazil via Boa Vista.
She challenged the airline to bring a high standard of passenger service, one that is efficient and effective, ensuring that its passengers are treated properly and are notified about delays and cancellations in a timely manner.
Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh, spoke of the benefits that this airline brings to the Tourism sector. He pointed out that the tourism industry is heavily dependent on air transport.
During a ceremony in Barbados, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner stated that Barbados has shared a long-standing relationship with Guyana.
“Guyana has long been a significant market for Barbados as we recorded 11,151 Guyanese visitors to Barbados last year, and that is 12% more than we recorded in 2014…so this flight does well for us as we constantly seek to increase capacity and penetrate the South American market” she said.
Fly All Ways has already opened a Guyana office at Croal Street and United Nations Place, Georgetown.
