MINISTER of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali (Ag) Monday said that government is willing to work with Delta Airlines and to ensure its presence locally. Delta had announced that it would be pulling out of Guyana by May. Minister Ali explained that despite the fact that government has been in discussion with other airlines so as to fill that void that would be created when Delta leaves Guyana’s skies in May, government has also made it very clear that they are willing to work with the airline in supporting their operations.
“The problem is not with passengers; it’s in terms of their (Delta) profitability, we are still open to discussions with them and we are awaiting various options, proposals that they will submit to us so that we can examine and to see whether there is any feasible option,” the minister pointed out.
At a press conference on Saturday at the Miami Hilton, President Donald Ramotar told reporters that Guyana is asking Delta to stay. “We would very much like them to stay, because it’s a reputable airline,” the president told Miami-based Caribbean reporters.
The president dismissed claims that Delta was pulling out of Guyana, due to poor passenger response. “The reason why Delta is pulling out cannot be because of the shortage of people travelling, because Delta had … from the time they started, they have been first in the 70s (percentage) and over the last few years, they have been in the 80 percent of being filled, so it’s a very good route,” the president said. (GINA)