A team of Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) executive officials from Trinidad & Tobago met yesterday with Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Mohamed Irfaan Ali; THAG President Mr. Shaun McGrath; CJIA CEO, Mr. Ramesh Ghir, and representatives from the GTA and the Ministry of Tourism to address key and critical issues, including Caribbean Airlines’ customer service, its in-transit process and security checks of Guyanese passengers at Piarco International Airport, Caribbean Airlines’ capacity, airfare, and the issue of strengthening collaboration between Caribbean Airlines and Guyana.

The Caribbean Airlines team included its CEO, Mr. Michael DiLollo; vice- president of Commercial Operations and Customer Service, Mr. George Reeleder; and Sales Executive for Guyana and Suriname, Mr. Dion Innis.

Minister Ali said the engagement was critical to strengthening the relationship between the Government of Guyana (GoG) and the airline, and to improving the role that CAL continues to play in regard to meeting the needs of the Guyana market.

Ali emphasised the need for both Caribbean Airlines (CAL) and the Government of Guyana to improve the partnership, and to formulate a strategy that would define the way forward in the best interest of all stakeholders involved.

Mr. Di Lollo concurred with Minister Ali’s remarks, and emphasised that steps have already been taken to ensure that connectivity improves, communication is enhanced, and services to the various destinations are expanded.

Di Lollo also said that one of the critical means of accomplishing a strengthened partnership was to establish a formal communication structure through which important concerns could be addressed and critical information shared.

He said that despite existing constraints, Caribbean Airlines would continue to improve its partnership with the Guyanese travellers.

Mr. Ramesh Ghir pointed to the opportunities that exist for the expansion of CAL’s services, given that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project would result in improved infrastructure. He also pointed to impact of the recent modernisation of the Control Tower, and new avenues to expand CAL’s services.

And THAG President Shaun McGrath iterated that there are significant opportunities to expand the tourism sector further, even as he expressed the hope that Caribbean Airlines would join in the amplified thrust and partner with all stakeholders to accomplish this.

A team from CAL and the GoG will meet early next year to discuss the way forward.