AN agreement to operate joint flights was signed on Friday between Star Alliance members Copa and Turkish Airlines, and is a major game- changer for the travel industry of Latin America and the Caribbean.

This is especially important to Guyana, a country very much isolated from global hubs.

Now travelers can fly Copa Airlines from Guyana to Panama City and connect with Turkish Airlines’ vast global network to cities in Africa, Europe, Central Asia, the Middle and Far East.

Through this code-sharing agreement, these two top global carriers will offer passengers seamless connection from 74 destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Guyana, four times a week to 226 international destinations in Europe, Africa, the Middle and Far East and Australia on the Turkish Airlines network.

Turkish Airlines (THY), a state owned company, operates 337 aircraft and has been chosen as Europe’s best airline for the past six years by Skytrax survey. A codeshare agreement allows two or more airlines to list certain flights in a reservation system under each other’s names. This means, for example, a businessman from Beijing or Dubai can reach Guyana via Istanbul and Panama City, and luggage check to the final destination seamlessly, subject to government approvals.

In 2018, Turkey will open one of the iconic airports in the world that will rival those in Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Singapore, with six runways, capable of handling 200 million passengers. This project will cost the Turkish government about US$7 billion. It will replace the Ataturk Istanbul Airport, which still offers passengers many comforts, easy and frequent connections via Istanbul.

Guyana on the other hand, by the end of 2017, will finally complete the modernisation and expansion of its Cheddi Jagan International Airport after many delays and setbacks. More significantly, since the discovery of major oil reserves off the shores of Guyana, its aviation and tourism industries are poised to grow if there is sound planning and transparency.

(Caribbean News Now)