LOCAL airline operators will have to step up their game and maintain some kind of consistency if they do not wish to come under the review of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for poor performance.GCAA Director General, Captain Egbert Fields told the Guyana Chronicle that operators failing to fulfil their obligations to the flying Guyanese public could be asked to provide documentation in support of their operation.

Fields’ statement came in response to concerns pertaining to equal review of all airline operators. The aviation authority during the Christmas season had requested from United States-based carrier Dynamic Airways a report on flight delays and cancellations that had disrupted the travel plans of more than 600 passengers flying between the US and Guyana.

While Dynamic’s has since provided a report on the issues it faced during the season, Fields noted that the designated officer will commence review of the operation today.

The findings of the report will determine whether there is a greater need to examine the full operations of the carrier.

Dynamic’s local representative, Captain Gerry Gouveia had expressed that while the airline was 100 per cent ready to cooperate with the GCAA, it would like to see other airlines being reviewed since they too would face operational problems.

Gouveia had claimed that the attention drawn to Dynamic’s travel woes was due to the sensational media reports of “two” flight cancellations”.

He said since other airlines would face cancellations and other flight problems, “I will expect an even-hand and a levelled play field, so I would like equal reviews to be done of other carriers.”

Captain Fields stated that while abrupt reviews would not be the case, the one of Dynamic’s cancellation was cause for concern, “much of which was expressed by John public”.

Fields had said that, “this operation caused major disruptions of passengers’ travel plans during the season. It impacted on the movement of traffic… and caused some concern for the authority.”

He noted however that should other airlines cause such disruptions with travel, then they too could be subjected to provide necessary information requested by the GCAA. No one will be singled out in this regard, Fields pointed out.

He continued by stating that the GCAA will look at any other (airline) should they pose major or significant travel inconvenience of the magnitude which Dynamic experienced.

Scores of passengers were left stranded at the John F Kennedy International Airport following Dynamic’s delay.

They had complained about having little to eat and having to sleep at the airport, while others claimed that they had to be traveling back and forth from the airport to ascertain whether the flight would be leaving for Guyana.

While cancellations and delays are not unique to Dynamic Airways, the airline has had its significant share of bad days, even its inaugural flight to Guyana was marred by delays.

While travel on the Guyana/NY route has been lucrative, service between the destinations has been fairly unreliable with many start-up, charter companies and some airlines leaving Guyanese stranded, taking them halfway of the journey, charging exorbitant airfares and implementing stiff policies to the inconvenience of passengers.

The idea of a national carrier has been in the pipeline for a long time with many saying a Guyana-based airline would significantly ease travel woes.

The GCAA, under its new leadership, has committed to improving and regularising a smooth flow within the local aviation industry.