Fly Guyana says applications with local and US authorities

Fly Guyana says it has made the necessary applications to the civil aviation authorities both here and in the United States with a view to commencing operations in October.

Up to last week, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) had said that the entity which wants to operate flights between here and the US had not submitted an application.

Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Harry Chowbey, the owner of Fly Guyana said that the airline will commence the Georgetown – New York route from October this year but declined to reveal the amount of the investment in the venture or who the investors were, saying that this information was confidential. It is unclear why Fly Guyana is sure of an October start when its application has not yet been approved.

“The focus will be on GEO to JFK to start and then [we will] look at expansion,” Chowbey said. He formerly worked at Delta Airlines and before that he worked at Continental Airlines and Leading Edge Aviation Services.

Chowbey said that the applications for all of the requirements both in Guyana and in the United States are being processed on schedule.

He said that the service will initially operate a Boeing 757-200 with a two-class configuration. He said that later on a second aircraft will be added as the service expands.

Asked how it is that the airline will make a difference in terms of service and price, Chowbey said, “Fly Guyana Airline’s difference will be in operational performance, exceptional customer service, great product and fair/competitive pricing. Focus will be to get our passengers to their destination on time, ensuring they are comfortable during the flight and serve an enjoyable Guyanese meal on board.”

Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Zulfikar Mohammed said two weeks ago that Fly Guyana had not yet made a formal application to the GCAA. At that point, Mohammed said that he would not comment on when Fly Guyana would commence operations.

Aviation authorities here will be under pressure to closely scrutinise the credentials and financial strength of Fly Guyana as a series of charters and other services have gone bust in the last decade, leaving passengers stranded and out of pocket.

Guyana’s airlift suffered a severe blow not only with the exit of Delta Airlines in early May but also with Caribbean Airlines sharply increasing prices, coinciding with the peak travel period, weeks after Government named that airline as the national flag carrier. One month ago Cabinet gave its approval for Fly Jamaica to commence flights from here to New York and Toronto contingent on the company meeting all of the financial and technical requirements, including a $40 million bond.