The Government of Guyana has begun discussions with Suriname Airways, in an effort to have that airline service the Georgetown-New York route, to fill the void that will be created by the planned exit of Delta Airlines from the Guyana market. On Monday, President Donald Ramotar and delegation, which included Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, met with Vice President of Suriname Airways, Clyde Cairo, on the sidelines of the 24th Inter-Sessional Meeting of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said that the two sides will have a follow-up meeting shortly as they continue to explore the possibilities of the airline servicing the route.
Cairo said that the meeting with President Ramotar and delegation was fruitful and he will relay the issues with the Board of Directors of Suriname Airways.
“We have discussed possibilities, yes there are options which we will look into … I need to report to my board first…effective July, we can begin servicing this route, either non-stop or via another point,” Cairo said in an invited comment.
This move has come about as a result of Delta Airlines’ announcement last week that it intends to stop flying the Georgetown- New York route as of May, 2013.
Suriname Airways restarted its non-stop flight between Georgetown and Miami on April 3, 2012, twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Last year an official of the airline had indicated that Suriname Airways was looking to tap into the Georgetown- New York market. The airline offers a non-stop service with direct flights to Miami and excellent connecting flights to other destinations, including Amsterdam, Brazil, the Middle East, and even China.
The airline, during the 1980s, provided flights to New York from Georgetown. (GINA)