– partnering with NGOs to develop local communities
INSELAIR is collaborating with Roraima Airways to offer lifetime opportunities to Guyanese pilots, and is also partnering with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to develop local communities.
Chief Executive Officer of InselAir Edward Heerenveen yesterday, disclosed at a press conference at Duke Lodge, Kingston that the international airline is now hiring local pilots for flights to its extended hubs.
“We are going to hire pilots from Guyana who are ready with their education and are looking for a place to work,” he announced.
Meanwhile, Marketing Director Nicola Bereios said InselAir has made funds available for community development undertakings and is banking on initiatives by NGOs with interests in students, youth and sport.
The airline has also launched a promotion for university students and senior citizens in which they will be given ten percent discounts off ticket prices to any destination.
Increased flights
Bereios said the airline has been particularly impressed with accomplishments in Guyana, and in just 15 months, flights have increased from twice weekly at its opening to four times in December and two additional flights again last month, making it six weekly flights. The move to partner with Roraima Airways has opened up impressive markets for InselAir.
Chief Executive Officer of Roraima Group of Companies Gerry Gouveia said he too is impressed with the partnership since InselAir has brought an entire new dispensation to travel in Guyana and is opening this South American country to several untraditional destinations.
Gouveia said he is also pleased that InselAir is living up to its social responsibility and comfortably fits into what Roraima stands for, being socially conscious and projecting various charitable drives.
Roraima, Gouveia noted, is famous for charitable work and development support, especially within Amerindian communities along Demerara River, with Santa Mission being a notable one.
He announced that the company is also hiring Guyanese flight attendants.
Meanwhile, Heerenveen said his mission in Guyana is to have talks with the new APNU+AFC government to come up with strategic plans for the development of the country and how his airline can contribute to this.
He said that he was impressed with talks with Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes yesterday morning, which seemed fruitful, and he described the minister as an “incredible lady”.
Gouveia also announced that Minister Hughes said she has hopes of collaborating with tourism sectors in Aruba and Curacao in a similar initiative to the recently established one which twins Barbados with Guyana, bringing tourists from there to hop-over here.
InselAir has also had successful talks with Minister of Infrastructure Anette Ferguson, and as a result of talks with both ministers it is preparing to launch promotions targeting visitors who will travel here for Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations next year, reducing rates and expanding flights for the expected peak season.
It covers 30 destinations with 180 seat pairs, and uses Aruba and Curacao as hubs to even countries as far as India, China and Hong Kong, among others.
The company has partnered with several airlines, including COPA airlines and Dynasty, and said that using Curacao and Aruba as hubs would be the best travellers’ choice since it reduces time and distance and offers multi-destination deals for the same cost.
InselAir is also seeking to secure flights to Boa Vista, expanding services to Brazilians here although it already has flights three times weekly to Manaus, the officials said.
It is also working towards strengthening existing ties with Air France, to push Guyana as a choice destination for Holland and Germany among the main targets.
