Caribbean Airlines accorded flag carrier status

– launches inaugural flight to Toronto

By Elvin Carl Croker

It was a doubly sweet experience for Caribbean Airlines on Tuesday when its new Boeing 767 jet touched down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport for its inaugural flight to Toronto, Canada, and Transport Minister Robeson Benn announced that the airline was now the national flag carrier.
On hand to welcome the jet was Caribbean Airlines Manager (South America) Carl Stewart who greeted airline Chairman Rabindra Moonan and Chief Executive Officer  Robert Corbie among others who were the first to disembark. Also welcoming them were Minister Benn and acting Tourism and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali. The flight which was scheduled to arrive at 14:50h touched down at 15:30h to applause from the waiting delegation.
Benn in remarks said he was very happy to receive guests from Trinidad on the special inaugural flight of the  767 from Toronto to Guyana. He noted that the presence of the airline executives attest to the fact that there were significant connections between the two countries.
“We are thrilled by this event, we would like to thank Caribbean Airlines for having the interest and the faith in Guyana, particularly for having responded to Guyana’s plea for assistance recently,” he noted.
“Guyana wants to ensure that it has continuing links and interfacing with its diaspora in North America and Toronto, Canada. The links are very important for the economy and the country and the level of relationships between our people is very important,” the minister stated. He said Caribbean Airlines has always been a solid, stable, ever-ready partner in respect of operations throughout Guyana. And Guyana would like to stick with this development.
“I’ve been instructed by the president to accord to Caribbean Airlines flag carrier status for all areas flying out of Guyana; this will give Caribbean Airlines the opportunity to use Guyana as a base and to make more efficient their logistics with respect to their operations and to make that more efficient and economical; and we want to see success in their operations,” the minister announced.
He also stated that Guyana views Caribbean Airlines as the regional airline, the Caricom national airline, and wishes for the success of it and that our continuing engagement should result in a win-win situation for both Caribbean Airlines and Guyana.
Historic
Airline Chairman Rabindra Moonan described the event as a pleasurable one for all, not only at Caribbean Airlines but the aviation industry and the officials of the government of Guyana.
“We are very happy to be a part of history in the making. We want to thank the government who made this occasion seamless in that we had very little red tape to deal with, and Caribbean Airlines want to give our commitment of selfless, dedicated, loyal service to the people of Guyana, because we appreciate the level of activity which is taking place in Guyana and the role of Caribbean Airlines in regional integration. We are not complacent; we are here for the long haul,” the chairman said.
Flights will commence twice weekly and an extra flying day will be added based on market demand.