By Zena Henry

AVIATION authorities here are to write Curacao for clarifications on the dilemma that country’s national carrier, Insel Air, is facing. Several reports from overseas media houses have shown that the Curacao carrier is facing deep financial difficulties as well as safety issues with its fleet. Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Egbert Field, said that the agency was given no formal information by Insel and a meeting had been scheduled with the airline on Tuesday, but it did not come off. He said the information coming out of Curacao suggests that Insel is unable to efficiently service its destinations and Guyana is seeking clear information on this position.
Insel Air began operating in Guyana in 2014, offering two weekly flights from Guyana to Miami, Venezuela and the Caribbean, among other destinations. It was described as a new dispensation, opening up new routes for locals and foreigners to get to and from Guyana or to connect with other countries. The airline also offered special packages to destinations such as Aruba for vacationers.
However, the airline has been experiencing some difficulties with its operations. Curacao authorities have grounded most of the airline’s planes over safety concerns. Reports out of Suriname said that Curaçao’s Civil Aviation Authority held almost all of Insel’s planes to the ground, claiming that a number of incidents on flights resulted in this move.

It was noted that during a flight from Curacao to Miami more than a week ago, a precautionary landing was made due to irregularities in the cabin, causing passengers to sometimes use their oxygen masks. Another incident saw a pilot refusing to fly one of the airline’s planes from Saint Martin, claiming that the plane’s cabin was not in good condition. At least 80 percent of Insel’s planes remained out of the sky, with almost all international flights deleted from its flight destinations. Some 100 million euros is said to be tied up in neighbouring Venezuela, which is going through an extremely rough financial period.
However, to add to the airline’s troubles, Suriname and the United States recently gave out warnings about travelling with Insel, because it was not using its own equipment. That country’s Association of Travel Agents advised its members not to book Surinamese who want to travel to the Region on Insel, or should they, they would be doing it at their own risk.
It was said that Insel Air operates at least seven weekly flights from Suriname to the Region, “but now they [Insel] do not fly with its own equipment to and from Suriname. As far as we know, the flights at most run with hired equipment from other companies,” Suriname’s Civil Aviation Authority said. Local company, Roraima Airways, is the ground handler for Insel Air. When an update on the airline was sought from the company’s public relations arm, the publication was directed the airline’s office. The Chronicle was told that the airline was awaiting word on the next Insel flight, since it had not come when it was scheduled to. Some airline ticket agents said that they were not selling tickets for Insel Air, since they were told that the planes have been grounded. The agents said they are awaiting further instructions from the company.