Virgin Atlantic, other big airlines set sight on Guyana

GUYANA, a fledgling petroleum state, is expected to attract investors and people from across the world with its growing economy and “big airlines” such as Virgin Atlantic and West Jet, having noticed the country’s potential, have started to engage authorities on the possibility of operating here.
The most direct activities associated with aviation have already created $20.7 billion in annual economic activity for Guyana, representing 3.2 percent of the country’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

On a macro level, Guyana, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is expected to grow by 26.2 percent in 2020, despite the harsh effects of the novel coronavirus. The country’s resilience and potential make it the ideal investment destination, a reality which has not escaped the attention of ‘big’ carriers.

“We have commenced discussions with Virgin Atlantic… I have been spearheading that… I would hope we would be able to see Virgin Atlantic landing in Guyana with a scheduled operation… we hope those talks are successful,” said Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill in his remarks prior to the installation of the board of directors of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), on Wednesday.

The Chairman of the new GCAA board is Javed Shadick and the other members are Fazad Khan, Prema Roopnarine, Ramesh Seebarran, Lt. Col. Courtney Byrne, Beulah Williams, Jerome Khan, Chief Executive Officer of the CJIA, Ramesh Ghir and Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, Egbert Field.
While talking about some of the projects which are in the pipeline, Minister Edghill said that West Jet, Inter Caribbean Airways and Fly All Ways are “knocking strongly at the door, while the country has already licensed Jet Blue, which is expected to start operating from December 11, with five weekly flights.

“And by no means should that be a full stop, it should be a comma…we want the world visiting Guyana and we want Guyana visiting the world,” said Minister Edghill, adding: “We want to ensure air transportation is robust, accessible, predictable, reliable and affordable…we are also ensuring competition because we are not preferring one or the other, everyone is equal.”

To this end, the minister said the plan is to align GCAA with those goals to ensure that Guyana’s development remains on the front burner.
While a number of airlines from across the Region and farther afield have expressed an interest in the Guyana travel market, another key aspect of development in the aviation sector is the construction of airstrips.

“We have been able to approve permission for the establishment of two new airstrips and the applications for others are pending,” said Minister Edghill.
Among the applications is one to establish an airstrip at Orealla, an indigenous community in the East Berbice-Corentyne region.
Additionally, a private investor is constructing a heliport at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD). This facility is expected to service the offshore oil-and-gas operations, among other things.

From government’s end, the minister said they are finalising the design and programme for modernisation of the aerodrome at Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The general plan as previously reported is to transform the Lethem airstrip into a regional airport.
“Once this is done, people would not have to come to Timehri; they could do connecting flights at Lethem and go farther into South America,” said Minister Edghill.

The aggregate benefits of these projects are immense, but the minister said airstrips also contribute to community development, as trade becomes easier and jobs are created.

Whether through private or public interventions, the minister said growth at every level is inevitable.