FLY Jamaica, the new Jamaican air carrier led by Guyanese Captain Ronald Reece, received permission from the United States Department of Transport last Tuesday to fly to and from America, in the final stage of a process that is required before operations can be launched.

The Guyanese-led service, given approval under the Federal Aviation Regulations part 129, is expected within the next few weeks to commence operating a charter service initially between Guyana, Jamaica, New York and Toronto.
Chartered flights of the Boeing 757 jet will begin this month, and management anticipates launching scheduled flights by January 2013.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fly Jamaica is Captain Ronald Reece.
Fly Jamaica Airways is a partnership between Reece and three Jamaican shareholders, which are Captain Lloyd Tai and Manager of In-flight Services, Christine Steele, both former senior officials in Air Jamaica, the former Jamaica carrier.
The collaboration between the Guyanese and the Jamaicans has been hailed as the first in the history of aviation in the Caribbean; and Captain Reece has been hailed as the first person to certify a large airline in the Caribbean, and to have done it in record time.
The Guyanese, also CEO of the local domestic air service Wings Aviation Ltd, recently told the Jamaica Gleaner newspapers that he had wanted to establish a large airline since 1982.
He said he considered it a privilege to set up operations and serve the Jamaican people.
Local aviation icon Capt. Malcolm G. Chan-a-Sue recently said that Captain Reece had substituted with guts and determination the considerable amount of money he needed to start the airline.
Director General of the Jamaican Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Derby, who also recently congratulated Captain Reece, said the people of Jamaica as well as the Government of Jamaica gave him all their support, and hoped that Guyanese would also give their unstinting support, and help the fledgling airline to become a great success.
Although not yet operational, Fly Jamaica has been described as already very popular in Jamaica.
The Jamaican newspaper, the Gleaner, recently described it as the new piece of Jamaica that flies.
Director of Fly Jamaica, Christine Steel, said the airline plans to set up its schedule for customers to start booking its service.
She acknowledged that the airline is entering a fairly competitive market, but said Fly Jamaica will distinguish itself through service.
“We plan to do full service on our flights: meals, everything…we are not getting into low fares, we plan to do first class service, first class in economy, meals, bars, everything on our flight. All the bookings will be done on our website, which will be open shortly,” she said.