Dear Editor,
Reference is made to your editorial ‘Travel Span woes’ (SN, Sep 29). As you correctly noted, Guy-anese “continue to suffer the agony of unreliable as well as substandard air service,” but not with regard to Caribbean Airlines, the premier carrier of the region. Travel Span, Dynamic, Constellation, Delta, Universal, etc, all airlines that plied the Guyana-North American route, failed or pulled out for one reason or another. Fortunately, Caribbean Airlines has stayed by our side through good and bad times to connect us with the rest of the world. Since others have proved to be unreliable, an effort should be made by the government or some private partner to deepen relations with CAL in its service to Timehri’s Cheddi Jagan airport.
Following the pull-out of Travel Span, a CAL official in an exchange with me noted that “Caribbean Airlines has always been there to help Guyanese, offering counsel, putting on special flights and generally lightening the burden. Today, with the unfortunate closure of yet another charter operator Caribbean Air-lines stands ready to assist. This is a time when once again we stand with the Guyanese passengers in full support. It’s a timely reminder perhaps to explore what your best options really are when you’re looking to fly. We’re proud to have been Guyana’s reliable, faithful air carrier.”
It is indisputable that Guyanese have become so dependent on CAL that we simply cannot do without it. I am a frequent flyer to the Caribbean (especially to Trinidad and Guyana); CAL is the preferred choice of carriers because of its frequent flyer mileage plan, its direct service, its convenient schedule from New York and Trinidad, and its competitive fares, among other reasons. CAL does have some issues that need addressing.
But I, and virtually every Guyanese, cannot do without CAL and we are so grateful it has stayed with us in spite of our lack of loyalty to it. Whenever some cheap, iffy service announces flight, we abandon CAL only to be burnt later on by that unreliable service.
No airline has shown the consistency and reliability in service as demonstrated by CAL. In spite of incurring huge financial losses and getting complaints from Guyanese about treatment at Piarco (beyond the control of CAL’s management – a US security issue), the airline remains loyal to Guyana. Had it not been for the reliability of CAL, Guyana would have been without daily aviation service – a minimum of three daily services and more during peak seasons.
Airlines have suffered major losses since 2001 after the 9/11 terror attacks. In addition, every airline to Guyana has complained of inadequate demand and various issues pertaining to security (drugs, theft and pilfering of baggage, etc, at Timehri). Airlines, including CAL, have been fined by the US and Canada. Yet CAL continues to take the financial risk in plying the Timehri-North American route staying with Guyana through rough times.
In spite of the tough competition and the many risks (such as drug trafficking) of operating in Guyana, CAL has remained loyal to Guyana pumping millions of American dollars in investment as well as increasing its number of flights to meet demands when others pulled out. As a result, the country benefits from jobs, tax revenues, landing fees, tourists, etc.
It seems like CAL has the interest of Guyana at heart – helps the Guyanese diaspora to visit their homeland. It serves Guy-ana’s public and tourist interest and developmental needs.
Air service is one of the most vital sectors of the country’s economic development and is even more important now that the government has announced plans to focus on tourism to boost the economy. The government should work closely with CAL to improve and expand its service. Guyanese complain they experience issues at Piarco; the government should work on these with the T&T government as it is not an airline issue.
Through CAL, Guyana has benefited with competitive fares, job creation, increase in travellers to Guyana and the injection of large amounts of dollars in the economy. CAL should be applauded for coming to passengers’ rescue when others break down.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
