Copa Airlines to increase flights to Guyana

Copa Airlines has announced that it will be adding another flight to its Guyana-Panama route with onward connections effective December 9 of this year.
With approval from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Copa will operate the additional flight on Fridays, adding to existing flights on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
According to the carrier, this decision to add an additional flight day is based on increasing demand that has been generated as well as plans to expand its services in Guyana.
Copa’s Regional Sales Manager Bernardo Ordas commented on this move, saying, “The airline is very proud to be serving Guyana. The additional flight will cater to the growing demand and will also provide a way by which Guyana’s tourism product could be further enhanced. We are also cognisant of the increase in traffic associated with Guyana’s emerging oil and gas industry and would like to continue playing a role in national development.”
Copa Airlines Sales Manager in Guyana, Nadine Oudkerk added, “The addition of a fifth flight to Guyana is part of our ongoing expansion efforts in the country and demonstrates that Copa is here to stay. We have been able to build strong partnerships with a number of groups, companies, and individuals, and remain committed to further developing these valuable relationships.”
In 2015, the airline doubled its capacity to four flights in response to increased requests from passengers to expand the service. The airline company currently offers flights to over 78 destinations in 32 countries in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean.
With advancements in Guyana’s tourism sector, air transport has played a critical role and many carriers have sought to improve connections between Guyana and other nations.
Just a few weeks ago, American Airlines commenced operations in Guyana, one of its 19 destinations across South America.
At that time, GCAA Director General Zulifar Mohamed mentioned that the carrier would advance Guyana’s tourism industry and increase the flight count to the North American continent. For him, bridging those gaps is essential for the country and its economy.
“We welcome them because the kind of connection they bring to Guyana would surely enhance not only tourism, but also trade in Guyana …The connectivity is needed in Guyana. We certainly know that the ridership will increase and the uplift out of Guyana will certainly welcome the increased flights out of North America,” Field was quoted as saying.
Adding to that, Guyana hosted the Air Transport Meeting at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, which was organised by the GCAA in collaboration with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo highlighted during his remarks that Guyana made a 20 per cent improvement in the aviation sector and currently had 64 per cent compliance. He said this was evidence that the aviation sector was moving in the right direction.
The Air Transport Meeting addressed issues such as harmonising the regional air transport regulatory framework as well as the liberalisation of air cargo through regional and global approaches.