-Jamaica may follow suit shortly
REDjet, the Caribbean’s first low-fare airline, has been given the go-ahead to initiate operations to Trinidad in less than two weeks.
Tourism Minister, Manniram Prashad made the announcement yesterday during a media briefing at his office. This is the latest development in the three-month-old saga that began with Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica denying entry to the carrier.
Trinidad and Tobago’s government officials had raised concern about the safety of REDjet’s two-plane Caribbean fleet, despite their passing safety tests by Barbados’ civil aviation.
“I spoke to Ian Burns and he has confirmed that he has permission from Trinidad to begin flights to Trinidad; that is confirmed,” Prashad said, adding:
“We expect that they will come from Barbados to Trinidad, and from Trinidad to Georgetown. This will begin in September, as the formalities have to be dealt with. The main thing however is that approval has been given.”
He said too that from all indications, the airline is also expecting a “positive feedback,” from Jamaica as well.
The company is also in discussion with the Antiguan authorities to launch direct service along this route as well.
As to the implications of this latter development, the minister said:
“This looks quite positive as well, and I am very happy with this development and Mr. Burns is excited and happy with the support that H.E, President Bharrat Jagdeo and the people of Guyana has shown.”
In the wake of the delays that prevented the airline from initiating their service to Trinidad and Jamaica, President Bharrat Jagdeo had raised concerns over the accusations that the Barbados-based carrier was engaging in predatory pricing.
He’d also said that an “unconscionable airfare monopoly” by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines on Guyanese passengers led him to welcome REDJet.
President Jagdeo has also waded into the controversy involving Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago’s’ delayed approval for REDjet to fly to both countries during the Thirty-Second Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community President in St. Kitts earlier in the month. 
He called on regional governments to end “protectionism” in the industry and resolve the REDjet matter.
REDjet started servicing Guyana from Barbados in May, with fares as low as US$10. Their inaugural commercial flight arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) from Barbados on May 10, 2011 with 149 passengers on board, including top REDjet officials and representatives of the Barbadian Government.