…to embark on five flights to Lethem per week
Air Services Limited (ASL), based at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, recently acquired another Cessna Grand Caravan increasing its  fleet of such aircraft to seven and its overall fleet of planes to 18. All this is indicative of the company’s willingness to invest heavily  in aviation as a key element of hinterland development.
This was disclosed by ASL  Flight Operations Manager, Annette Arjoon –Martins, Wednesday last.
The company intends also to invest in a correspondingly larger hangar and ramp, the only obstacle being  delays in getting additional land at Ogle.
Annette Arjoon- Martins stressed :” There are areas in the hinterland where,  due to some difficulties, the other local airlines do not go. We go everywhere. We are committed to that, so extra land is very integral to our developmental plans . We need it desperately because without that, our expansion will be greatly hindered.”
She made the comments at a function in honour of two visiting businessmen who are owners of Central American Aircraft Distributors (CAAD), a company which sells the  Cessna Grand Caravan which has been described as the workhorse of the local aviation industry.
The venue was  the  Roof Terrace of Mojo’s King Plaza, on Main Street, and those present included visiting businessmen Luis and Julio Caballero of Nicaragua,  Prime Minister Samuel Hinds , Minister of Public Works and Communications Mr. Robeson Benn, officials of the Civil Aviation Authority and the private sector among others.
ASL said the occasion was aimed at deepening relationships between the suppliers and the local company in pursuit of expansion to meet the growing needs of hinterland locations not easily accessible by land.
ASL, Mrs. Martins disclosed, also plans to expand the work of its Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) approved Flight Training School with an eye to attracting not only students from home and the Caribbean, but from South America as well..
On this aspect of ASL expansion , she disclosed, “ We are looking to have South Americans come here and learn to fly in an English-speaking school, which would add to their marketability given stricter regulations for pilots being bilingual for air services safety purposes.”
She stressed that ASL, which  celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding this year , was deeply committed  to the development of the services of the local aviation industry and national development.
She disclosed that the latest acquired Cessna Grand Caravan was bought specifically to service the Ogle to Lethem route, enabling ASL to provide five flights to Lethem, Monday to Friday , each week, to  satisfy  a burgeoning demand for such a service.