With Caribbean Airlines likely to be the only carrier to New York from Guyana for a short period this year, the airline says it has no plans to raise fares.

And as the peak travel season approaches and with the entrance of a US airline in addition to a North American/Travel Span alliance, Caribbean Airlines is monitoring the situation daily. The airline has seen an increase in advance bookings, which are up from last year around the same period, but Area Manager Carlton Defour said this could be the result of various reasons but he would not elaborate.

Defour told Stabroek News on Monday that there has been a notable increase in the short-term period for bookings to New York. He said that some of the advance bookings are Easter flights out.

Since the announcement that Travel Span and North American were suspending services to Guyana, he said, Caribbean Airlines has been monitoring the situation daily. Defour said they are aware of the subsequent announcement of a merger between the two airlines and the entrance of Delta Airlines. Travel Span exited last month and will resume from June while North American will quit the New York-Guyana route in May.

Defour said the airline will make no rash decisions with respect to flights or rates, adding that that the flight schedule to New York, Miami and Toronto remains the same. Defour noted that there is also no plan to increase fares in the unlikely event the market is left with only one airline.

“Our rates will not go up, there are no such plans. What will remain the same is the fact that if passengers book now they will enjoy reduced fares as opposed to if they book later when it is closer to the flight date,” he stated.

North American Airlines announced last month that it would cease scheduled flights to Guyana in May due to the high cost of fuel. This was followed by a similar announcement from Travel Span, which also cited the high cost of fuel and operating costs.

But a press release was later issued by Travel Span which revealed that North American Airlines will be operating its B757 for Travel Span flights to Guyana, Trinidad and Fort Lauderdale with effect from June 24, following a new agreement between the two airlines which will come into effect for the summer peak season.

Delta Airlines has announced it has received permission from US authorities to fly to Guyana later this year and American Airlines is also said to be interested.