By Alva Solomon

AN overseas-based group called Trans Royale Corp – One Guyana Air Travel announced over the weekend that it is interested in operating an airline out of Guyana, with flights to the lucrative routes of New York and Miami; but it has not yet applied to the relevant authorities for permission to operate in this regard.This company said its flights will begin on May 20 for Guyana’s Independence weekend celebration, with a full schedule slated to commence on July 1. However, reports are that the company has merely expressed its interest to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

The group has to embark on the application process through the GCAA as well as the United States authorities. This process includes lodging a performance bond with local authorities and a surety bond which seals the contract between the two parties. It reportedly is a stringent process, but it would enable the company to be issued with an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) which will certify its ability to operate as an airline.

Mr Hugh Denbow, former chairman of the GCAA Board and current member of the said board, told this newspaper on Monday that the new company would have to forward the relevant documents to the Director General of the GCAA for approval to operate. He said that as far as he is aware, the GCAA is not in receipt of an application from anyone connected to Trans Royale Corp – One Guyana Air Travel.

He said the US authorities would have to communicate with the GCAA on the application process for any company which plans to partner with an airline on a lease agreement.

Reports in a another section of the press on Monday quoted Trans Royale Corp — One Guyana Air Travel as extending its service to Guyana with the aim of ameliorating the shortage of flights to several destinations worldwide.

This flight operation is said to be a joint venture between Trans Royale Corp — One Guyana Air Travel and Eastern Air Lines Group Inc, a Miami-based airline.

According to the air service company, Eastern Air Lines currently flies a fleet of five Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Its latest aircraft delivery was on February 5, 2016.

Checks online revealed that Eastern Air Lines is the second installation out of a company from which it bought the ownership rights. The original company, which operated under the same name, flew out of Miami between 1926 and 1991, when it ran bankrupt.

Over the years, a number of airlines were established here, and operated flights to and from Guyana, only to fold under financial pressure in the highly competitive international market.

At the moment, there are 6 (six) carriers which fly in and out of Guyana. These include Caribbean Airlines, LIAT (1974) Limited and Fly Jamaica Airways, a company registered in Jamaica but being operated by Guyanese pilot Ronald Reece and partners on that island. Reece had, for years, been awaiting permission to operate out of Guyana, but launched the ambitious service out of Kingston in 2013.

A few airlines, including some which folded, had expressed desire to operate as the national flag carrier after Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) had folded in 2001.

A number of airlines have since been established with part Guyanese–ownership. These included GA 2000 (2001-2003), which succeeded GAC; Universal Airlines (2001-2005); and EZ Jet Airlines (2011-2012). Another airline, Redjet, which operated out of Barbados, had launched an ambitious service with high dependence on Guyanese customers.

That airline, which promoted low-cost travel at its launch, also folded financially, and like many others, left hundreds of local customers stranded, with many seeking reimbursements for flights booked with the airline months in advance.