— US Embassy tells American residents not on April 14th Flight

AMERICANS and U.S. residents who did not take the Eastern Airlines flight out of Guyana to Miami on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, must be prepared to “shelter in place indefinitely”, the US Embassy in Georgetown said on Tuesday.

Based on the tone of the alert and the non-indication of the availability of additional flights on Eastern Airline’s website, it is unclear whether or when there will be another flight to the US for those stranded in Guyana.

“The U.S. Embassy had requested permission for Eastern Airlines to operate a special commercial relief flight today. Eastern Airlines is taking final reservations on the airline website for direct booking departing today, Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at 16:30 hrs from Georgetown to Miami,” the alert stated, adding:

“U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents of the United States are strongly encouraged to take this flight or prepare to shelter in place indefinitely.”

On Eastern Airlines’ website as of April 14, the cost for the four-hour, one-way flight stood as high as US$ 1,012.20 for economy passengers and US$ 1,262.90 for premium passengers. The prices were the same for both adults and children while the dates ahead as far as one could scroll were blank.

Guyana’s ban on international travel has been extended to May 1, 2020 to prevent imported cases of COVID-19. The ban first took effect on March 18, 2020 for 14 days and was extended for an additional 30 days based on the recommendation of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

With the ban, exception has been given to outgoing flights; cargo flights; medevac flights; technical stops by airplanes for fuel and special authorised flights.

During the last few weeks, these exceptions have been utilised and were approved by the task force, based on requests submitted.

The U.S. Embassy in Guyana had previously received approval for a commercial relief flight, operated by Eastern Airlines, which departed Georgetown to Miami, on Wednesday April 1, 2020, via Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). The flight was fully booked.

Eastern Airlines requested and received permission from the GCAA to operate a commercial flight on March 19, and it was fully booked, within hours.

It also received approval from the GCAA for another Eastern Airlines flight from Georgetown to Miami for March 28, 2020. This flight was fully booked as well and departed on schedule.

The US Embassy requested approval from the GCCA for Eastern Airlines to operate a commercial humanitarian flight on March 26, and the Embassy reports that it was fully booked within hours.

In a previous alert on April 8, the US Embassy had stated that, while several flights had been successful thus far, the Embassy would not be able to facilitate such transport indefinitely.

“We are aware of the hardship land and airspace border closures have created for U.S. citizens who need to return to the United States. We have been exploring all options to address the current travel disruptions since Guyana closed its airspace to commercial flights on March 18. To date, we have requested special permission from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority to operate service for four commercial relief flights to transport Americans and their families home,” the Embassy stated.

It had added: “We are requesting government’s permission for another special commercial relief flight, operated by Eastern Airlines, to offer service between Georgetown and Miami on Tuesday April 14, 2020…we will not be able to offer this service indefinitely and cannot promise additional flights will be either available or approved throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”