U.S.-based Guyanese will be among those to benefit from increased airline competition

Dear Editor,

As a regular traveller, I am very encouraged by the fact that more airlines are beginning to service the Guyana route. No one can dispute the fact that for many years, the airline industry did not see the level of competition that currently exists. This is good for the country and in the end; the consumers will be the ones to reap the benefits. Already we are seeing how airfares have dropped for the various routes.

Now more Guyanese living abroad will want to come home, actually in some cases, they can even come home for the weekend, especially if they are travelling from Trinidad or Barbados as fares to/ from these destinations are the lowest ever.

I know for a fact that not many Guyanese travel on a regular basis, and this is partly because airfares were too high. Well, I am convinced that this is changing gradually. More airlines mean more competition, and more competition means reduced air fares and better quality services.

Just last week, after six years, Surinam Airways announced that it will be returning to Guyana and will now offer non-stop flights to Miami and other possible destinations in North America soon. The airline also hopes to provide this service for the Georgetown to Toronto route.

Surinam Airways’ Vice President Clyde Cairo was quoted in the media as saying that the airline is here to stay, and will be providing similar services and flights to its customers at home. According to Cairo, as part of its 50th anniversary, the airline will be returning to Guyana and will be offering better packages to all Guyanese travelers.

The airline during the 1980s provided flights to New York from Georgetown, and could possibly reintroduce this too. This is certainly good news, for especially those Guyanese living in the U.S.

Surinam Airways currently operates from Suriname’s capital, Paramaribo to Amsterdam, with five flights each week. The air carrier also travels frequently to countries within the Caribbean and South America including Brazil, Trinidad, Curacao, Aruba, Miami and Amsterdam.

Editor, with increased competition in the airline industry, I am sure that you would agree with me that not only would Guyanese benefit from cheaper fares, but our tourism efforts will be boosted, as it would now be more affordable for persons to visit Guyana. This will offer Guyana the opportunity to integrate more with the Caribbean and countries in South America. And no doubt direct flights from Georgetown to Miami will create great opportunities for the tourism sector.

Yours sincerely,

H M Hackett