AIRLINE Services Limited (ASL), was yesterday lauded for its commitment to improving the quality of its transport services in support of economic activities in the hinterland, and for enhancing the comfort and safety of passengers travelling to and from such far-flung locations. The commendation was given by Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn, when commissioning two new aircraft to the ASL fleet, and officially opening a new departure lounge in the ASL compound at Ogle, East Coast Demerara yesterday.
Among those present at what Minister Benn described as a “significant event” were Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Opposition Leader, David Granger, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited (GCCI), and representatives of the Private Sector Commission.
The two aircraft commissioned were Cessna Caravans; and the lounge, comprising a section for ordinary passengers and a section for VIPs, was named the Yacoob Ally Lounge to honour the contributions of the founder of ASL, Mr Yacoob Mazaharally, to the local aviation industry.
In Minister Benn’s feature address, he said that acquisition of the two additional caravans to ASL marked a great shift towards safer and affordable transportation into the interior of Guyana.
“The Caravan is now the standard, and we now have to look at the next level, to which we have to work in order to continuously improve on the quality of service, affordable operations, and safety and efficiency of the industry towards our people,” he said.
Benn disclosed that the domestic airline service in Guyana was rapidly expanding, and there are 38 domestic aircraft, owned by six companies, operating out of Ogle.
145,064 passengers travelled out of Ogle in 2011, compared with 97,000 in 2010, showing that Ogle had increased operations of close to 50%.
In 2011, 20.2 million pounds of cargo were transported to hinterland locations through the Ogle airport, compared to 13.5 million pounds in 2010, indicating an increase of 49%.
ASL, in particular, moved 9.8 million pounds of cargo in 2011, compared to 4.6 million pounds in 2010, an increase of 46% over 2010 operations.
This, he said, was in response to improved operations in the gold industry and in the forestry and tourism sectors; and in the support of far-flung indigenous communities, which also need medical outreaches, emergency flights, and activities of that nature.
He observed that the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Public Works & Communications, has been working very hard to facilitate improved development of the domestic airline industry in particular.
He cited a partnership involving Government, the European Union and the Ogle Airport Inc. (OAI) which is spending some $30M to extend the runway at Ogle to make it a regional port of entry.
This work, though still ongoing, has seen significant improvements.
He added: “There has been the investment of some Gy$1B through the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority in improving flight instrumentation and navigation systems, both at Ogle and at Timehri.”
And Government has also been making investments in the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri, with respect to having a well integrated airport infrastructure and industry, which would encourage and boost tourism.
He said that government stands ready to work with all airline operators, and with ASL in particular, to ensure that Guyana continues along the significant path of national development.
Annette Arjoon-Martins told the gathering that the two Caravans were purchased specifically to service the expanded schedule to Lethem, and for tourism flights.
She traced the development of ASL from its early days in 1962, when it started with one aircraft and a staff of five; to its growth paralleling the growth of Guyana, to its current level of operation.
She said that, in June last, ASL received permission from the government and security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs to operate a helicopter service in Guyana with possibly the use of a Bell 206.
ASL was also moving to establish a state-of-the-art fuel farm at Ogle.
Another cause for elation was the achievement of ASL’s, Captain Feriel Ally, who had qualified as the first female Captain of a Cessna Grand Caravan in Guyana.
Arjoon-Martins said that due to the rapid expansion of the domestic airline services and the operations of ASL in particular, the present compound had become extremely cramped.
She said that land for expansion was badly needed in order to cope with the urgent needs for increased cargo storage and parking, and she urged Government and OAI to expedite the permission for the company to move to a plot of land near to the compound, to allow it to cater for the expansion of its operations.
The hour-long programme was chaired by the popular Dave Martins of Dave Martins and the Tradewinds fame. It included Minister Benn giving Captain Feriel Ally a plaque in appreciation of her achievement in becoming the first female pilot in Guyana qualified to fly Cessna Grand Caravans.
The programme ended with Minister Benn cutting the ribbon to commission the two Cessna Caravans, and a tour of the ASL facilities at Ogle, including the state-of-the-art fuel farm currently under construction.