The introduction of a direct flight through Skyservice between Toronto and Guyana is indeed an extremely positive development and fillip to the local tourist industry as now travellers would enjoy a much shorter flight time and far less hassle and discomfort associated with in transit flights.

It is now likely that that there would be a greater influx from the Guyanese diaspora in Canada and native Canadians as many who really want to visit Guyana are discouraged from doing so because of the hassles associated with indirect flights.

In this regard, those who have been instrumental in bringing this service to fruition must be commended and this is a tangible demonstration of confidence in the Guyana route by the owners of the airline.

What is also significant about this flight route is that because of the global financial crisis and other issues many airlines are experiencing some extremely difficult times and to have Skyline open its doors to Guyana is definitely a plus.

The increasing importance of airlines not only a means of transport but as cog in the economic and commercial world wheel cannot be over stated. On the contrary their viability is crucial to national economies and the global economy as hundreds of thousands are employed directly and indirectly by airlines as well as millions worth of goods and services are taken around the globe through air transport.

According to Airbus Global Market Forecast Air travel remains a large and growing industry. It facilitates economic growth, world trade, international investment and tourism and is therefore central to the globalization taking place in many other industries.

In the past decade, air travel has grown by 7% per year. Travel for both business and leisure purposes grew strongly worldwide. Scheduled airlines carried 1.5 billion passengers last year. In the leisure market, the availability of large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 made it convenient and affordable for people to travel further to new and exotic destinations. Governments in developing countries realized the benefits of tourism to their national economies and spurred the development of resorts and infrastructure to lure tourists from the prosperous countries in Western Europe and North America. As the economies of developing countries grow, their own citizens are already becoming the new international tourists of the future.

Business travel has also grown as companies become increasingly international in terms of their investments, their supply and production chains and their customers. The rapid growth of world trade in goods and services and international direct investment have also contributed to growth in business travel.

Worldwide, International Air Transport Association (IATA),, forecasts international air travel to grow by an average 6.6% a year to the end of the decade and over 5% a year from 2000 to 2010. These rates are similar to those of the past ten years. In Europe and North America, where the air travel market is already highly developed, slower growth of 4%-6% is expected. The most dynamic growth is centered on the Asia/Pacific region, where fast-growing trade and investment are coupled with rising domestic prosperity. Air travel for the region has been rising by up to 9% a year and is forecast to continue to grow rapidly, although the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and 1998 will put the brakes on growth for a year or two. In terms of total passenger trips, however, the main air travel markets of the future will continue to be in and between Europe, North America and Asia.

Airlines’ profitability is closely tied to economic growth and trade. During the first half of the 1990s, the industry suffered not only from world recession but travel was further depressed by the Gulf War. In 1991 the number of international passengers dropped for the first time. The financial difficulties were exacerbated by airlines over-ordering aircraft in the boom years of the late 1980s, leading to significant excess capacity in the market. IATA’s member airlines suffered cumulative net losses of $20.4bn in the years from 1990 to 1994.

Since then, airlines have had to recognise the need for radical change to ensure their survival and prosperity. Many have tried to cut costs aggressively, to reduce capacity growth and to increase load factors. At a time of renewed economic growth, such actions have returned the industry as a whole to profitability: IATA airlines’ profits were $5bn in 1996, less than 2% of total revenues. This is below the level IATA believes is necessary for airlines to reduce their debt, build reserves and sustain investment levels. In addition, many airlines remain unprofitable.

One would hope that Skyservice woud not suffer the fate of a few of its predecessors which after operating for relatively short periods closed their doors and packed up.

Both Guyanese and Canadians would be looking forward for a sustained air service of the highest quality and standard and from assurances given by officials it seems that indeed such a service would be provided.