SURINAME-based airline Fly All Ways has launched its inaugural flight from Guyana to Barbados. This was done without any hiccups on Tuesday, and officials have boasted that safety and comfort give the carrier the edge over its competitors.The airline will provide three non-stop flights per week from Guyana to Suriname to Barbados; and in September Fly All Ways will start its service from Barbados to St. Maarten, for the holiday season only. At the end of September, the airline will fly twice weekly to Boa Vista from Guyana, and from next week will also fly to Haiti once weekly.

The aircraft, a Fokker F70, is outfitted with 80 seats. From Suriname, it made its maiden voyage to Guyana; after which it flew to Barbados with a media team, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson; CJIA officials, and a team from Fly All Ways based in Suriname.

Before the flight took off to Barbados, an opening ceremony was held at the VIP Lounge at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), where several persons spoke. Ferguson told the gathering that aviation is a key sector in the facilitation of global, regional and national development. She said that to underscore its importance globally, aviation moves 3.3 billion passengers annually, contributes roughly 3.5 per cent of global GDP, and employs some 58 million people worldwide.

Study on air transport
Ferguson added that, recently, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) initiated a study to assess the economic impact of air transport on the Guyana economy. This study, she said, “will give us an indication of how much air transport contributes to Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).” The minister said the Government of Guyana welcomes the services of Fly All Ways to operate flights on the Paramaribo-Georgetown-Barbados routes; and in the near future, on the Paramaribo-Georgetown- Boa Vista routes.

She said, “We also believe that the introduction of new airlines into the aviation industry can only mean good for the Caribbean region and the people of the Caribbean, moreso for those countries that are directly affected by the entrance of new services.

“For us in Guyana, air transport is critical for our international connectivity, as more than 81 percent of tourists come to Guyana by air. Also, not forgetting the role air transport plays in sub-sectors such as agriculture, forestry, mining and social services. In the future, we anticipate an even greater role as Guyana’s oil and gas sector develops”, Ferguson added.

She pointed out that she is pleased that investors from Caricom countries can invest in regional airlines which will boost the economies of the regions, support the tourism sector, and provide more travel options for Caribbean travelers and also neighbouring South American countries.

The minister noted that Fly All Ways is coming into the market at a time when there is a decline in inter-Caribbean travel by air, as noted in one of the IDB’s studies; and also at a time when Guyana and Suriname are the two countries in South America that are least integrated by air with the rest of the continent.

Ferguson said the start of this service has bridged both gaps -– enhancing inter-Caribbean travel and also connecting Guyana and Suriname with Brazil via Boa Vista. She said, “Healthy competition is necessary for the development of the regional air transport sector, and so the introduction of flights to Barbados by Fly Always will complement the existing operators providing flights already to Barbados, such as LIAT and Caribbean Airlines Ltd.”

Additionally, Ferguson said, air carriers will develop the air connectivity and network of Guyana, and provide multiple travel options for the passengers. She disclosed that, with more travel options as a result of competition, it would mean more reasonable air fares for the passengers.

Bring high standard
The minister challenged Fly All Ways to bring a high standard of passenger service, one that is efficient and effective. In the past, there were many start-up airlines that did not make it for various reasons, and left a bad taste in the mouths of many Guyanese; such as Redjet, Ezeejet, Universal Airlines and others.

She said, “I trust that Fly Always will be a fresh start for regional airlines, (one) that will make a difference and serve the people of the Guyana and Caribbean well. In recent times, as well publicised in the media, many passengers were stranded at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport because of a glitch in the check-in facility, maybe as a result of faulty Internet connection.”

Ferguson encouraged Fly All Ways to be committed to the travelling public, and keep the passengers always informed whenever there is a delay or cancellation. She said, “I know, based on the business case submitted by Fly All Ways, that they have plans to commence services to Boa Vista, Brazil in the near future. I encourage Fly All Ways to also consider other destinations within South America and the Caribbean.”

Ferguson said: “When our Government took office, the aviation sector was confronted with numerous challenges, notably the poor level of compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation Standards and Recommended Practices. However, understanding the importance of the aviation sector, I have met with the ICAO regional officials and also attended meetings to find solutions.”

Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Indranauth Haralsingh, told the ceremony at CJIA that Fly All Ways flights to Guyana is a timely investment, and deployment of its aviation assets will boost network connections between South America and the Caribbean.

He said this new route will create a wealth of opportunities to increase intra-regional travel, trade and connectivity; and further facilitate the development of multi-destination packages and tourism.

Haralsingh added that the new route will result in time and cost savings for travelers, especially on long-haul flight connections, and will help to boost demand for ‘Destination Guyana.’

The GTA Director pointed out that the tourism industry is heavily dependent on air transport. Airlift and connectivity will definitely improve Guyana’s accessibility, which is critical in boosting arrivals on a sustained basis. He said airlift capacity and airlift load factors are important tourism metrics to driving successful tourism results; and to this end, GTA is looking forward to close collaboration with Fly All Ways.

Also making brief remarks was Chairman of GCAA, Larry London; newly appointed Director General of GCAA, Egbert Fields; Fly All Ways CEO of Marketing, Amichand Jhauw; Director of Civil Aviation Safety, Surinamese Brian De Souza; and Joyce Blokland, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transportation, Communication and Tourism.

They were all pleased to be a part of the inaugural flight on Tuesday.