ITS inaugural flight is scheduled for Thursday coming, and now that it has been granted flag-carrier status by the Guyana Government, Fly Jamaica has increased its amazing itinerary of non-stop flights.

Fly Jamaica intends to survive competition by using tourism-related events to maintain a constant passenger load, according to its Public Relations Manager, Ms. Roxanne Reece.

At yesterday’s press conference, held at the company’s office at the Wings Aviation Airdrome at Ogle International Airport, East Coast Demerara, the PRO said, “We are not just sitting and waiting on passengers to come to us. We are coming out there and we are offering you different events in our four destinations.”

Her assurance comes against the background of numerous carriers in the past going belly-up because of price gouging by competitors and fewer passengers travelling during low seasons, coupled with high operational costs.

Reece said Fly Jamaica would be offering cooking tours, sports, concerts and other tours in Guyana, Jamaica, New York and Toronto. “It’s not just selling seats: We are selling tourism; it’s a trade-off,” she told a news conference.

The Jamaica-headquartered carrier hopes Guyanese would travel to Jamaica to enjoy the beaches, and Jamaicans would come to Guyana to savour the rainforest.

Fly Jamaica’s first flight to Guyana is expected to land at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Thursday at 23:00hrs (11pm).

Reece added that the airline is still awaiting from the United States Department of Transportation a response to its application for a waiver to fly direct from Georgetown to New York, rather than transit Jamaica for 90 minutes.

She said the department has 90 days within which to respond to her carrier’s application, which was lumped together with a similar application by Caribbean Airlines. She noted that concerns had been raised then about the now scrapped fuel subsidy that the Trinidad and Tobago Government had been giving Caribbean Airlines. “Our application was objected to on the grounds that Caribbean (Airlines) was receiving a subsidy from their government,” she said. “It was an unfortunate incident, where (we were) linked with CAL, because we were all set to start those flights in July of this year,” Reece disclosed.

She added that the airline is in the process of buying a 767 craft which will definitely help its present 757 plane.

On the issue of drug trafficking through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the Fly Jamaica executive called for a more robust system and better paid persons to avoid being lured by quick cash. She said the airline would like to see a secure system that is more efficient and more reliable, but it is all based on the salaries people are paid and the level of people being employed.

She said it is unfortunate that Guyana has so many issues with drug smuggling, but assured that Fly Jamaica would be making efforts to ensure that drugs are not placed on its flights, though admittedly, “it’s going to be a very difficult job to keep on top of.”

Fly Jamaica has so far employed 40 Guyanese, including two pilots. The airline plans to buy an additional aircraft to serve more long-haul routes like Fort Lauderdale and Brazil next year, and partner with smaller carriers like LIAT.

The airline plans to have handicraft, cookbooks, telephones, SIM cards, Top-up sold aboard its aircraft.

Fly Jamaica Airways began with a dream to create a truly regional airline using local talent, and with an emphasis on providing a truly local experience to its customers. The dream is for a full-service local airline that would bring the Diaspora and the world home to the Caribbean.

Fly Jamaica Airways is a partnership between Chief Executive Officer and Guyanese-born Captain Paul Ronald Reece and Jamaican shareholders, including the Chief Operating Officer, Captain Lloyd Tai, and Manager of In-Flight Services, Christine Steele. The company was incorporated in Kingston, Jamaica on September 7, 2011 and started with a Boeing 757 aircraft.

“We faced a rigorous start-up process, including meeting national and international requirements. Through the stewardship of our experienced management, and dedication of our amazing employees, we proved to aviation regulators that we have what it takes to be a world-class airline. On August 24, 2012, Fly Jamaica Airways conducted its demonstration flight from Kingston, Jamaica to Georgetown, Guyana as part of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority’s (JCAA) approval process. On August 31, 2012, the JCAA issued our Air Operators Certificate (AOC).

“Fly Jamaica Airways has also satisfied rigorous requirements for the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Transportation and Security Administration (TSA), in order to operate as a commercial US-registered carrier. Now we look forward to taking to the skies and sharing our passion for safe, reliable and enjoyable aviation with the world,” she said.