Airlines jump into Guyana market

Attractions like the Iwokrama Walkway are helping to boost Guyana’s tourism.

 

CC20151105-Iwokrama WalkwayGEORGETOWN, Guyana – A decade ago, Guyana was only served by a few airlines. Today that number has more than doubled and airlines have also increased their frequency on existing routes in recent weeks.

Moreover, more international carriers are set to enter the Guyana market in the near future.

Due to high demand for its superior service, Star Alliance member COPA Airlines of Panama, which entered the Guyana market just over a year ago, is adding two more flights to Guyana from its Panama hub in December. With those additional flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays, COPA will double its frequency to four weekly.

COPA is the only airline operating to Guyana that offers its passengers a full meal and beverage without any additional cost. As well, passengers can carry two suitcases of up to 50 lb. each.

Insel Airline also increased its Guyana frequency from four to six flights weekly from Aruba and Curacao.

This expanded service will mean “seamless connections” for Georgetown passengers connecting to Insel’s hubs in Aruba and Curacao to Insel’s vast network, which includes Bonaire, St. Maarten, Manaus, Santo Domingo, Miami, Jamaica, Havana and to Venezuelan destinations such as Barquisimeto, Valencia, Caracas and Maracaibo, according to a press release from the airline.

Antigua based carrier LIAT, new start up airline Fly Allways, a private company from Suriname, Brazil’s Azul Blue, have all increased or started flights to Guyana.

Meanwhile, the extension of the runway at Georgetown’s Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is going ahead as planned and the modernization and expansion of the existing terminal is being fine-tuned by the new government that took office recently.

Due to major oil discoveries in Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana recently, the aviation sectors in these countries are poised to take off.