Establishment of national airline for Guyana still in limbo

ꟷ despite applications by local businessman, CAL wants to carry national flagship

Over the years, the APNU/AFC caretaker government has continuously expounded on the importance of a flagship carrier for Guyana; however, to date, this is still to become a reality.

Despite efforts by a private stakeholder through the Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) in recent times to establish and operate a local airline dubbed the “Guyana Airways”, the current administration continues to side-line such a move.
In light of the country’s need for a national airline, Trinidadian-owned and operated Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) has signalled its intent on securing a flagship carrier status in Guyana but according to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, his Government is not contemplating the idea of granting this to CAL.
“The grand thing –that status is a complicated issue because even granting it there is no guarantee that prices will go down, it is a private organisation, the pricing of airline tickets are done by the company. So, I can grant you as many concessions or many agreements as possible and there is no guarantee that the prices will go down and stay down. Initially, it may go down and can possibly go back up,” he told the media during his Ministry’s press conference on Wednesday.

He noted that although CAL and its precursor, the BWIA, served the Guyanese populace for over sixty years to date, his Government will continue to encourage such relations but at this time, the APNU/AFC Administration will not allow CAL the privilege of having a flagship carrier status in Guyana.
“There is still, I think, an appetite for a national airline, not through government, I want to make this quite clear. Probably through a public-private partnership. So it is something that is actively under consideration.”
Over a year ago, the GAC had won a court battle against the State for the use of the name of the air carrier. This airline was intended to become Guyana’s national airline.
Guyana Airways CEO Collin Abrams had stated that for some two years prior to this, his organisation had spent millions of dollars to prepare for the company’s success in this regard, but actions of the APNU/AFC Government resulted in him suffering losses and prevented him from establishing the airline here sooner.
In 2018, Abrams, who is the Chairman and Chief Pilot, had attempted to start up Guyana Airways Corporation Inc but the process was stymied after the Deeds Registry struck off the name.
Abrams in August of that year accused the Government of acting illegally.
“The Government had the legal right to object within the six-month time period after we received our corporate registration and failed to do their due diligence. Fast forward two years, they illegally and lawlessly unregistered my company just like that without prior notification,” Abrams reported the same in his Facebook post.
Abrams had initially argued that the name Guyana Airways Corporation Inc was chosen because it was available, with no national airline in Guyana for 18 years and claimed that the venture was financed by him and partners.
More than 80 flight attendants, pilots and more than 100 local staffers were in the process of being hired when the deregistration occurred.
The company was planning to start operations with two 737 aircraft.
Nevertheless, Guyana Airways was started in 1939 as British Guiana Airways (BGA) using Ireland flying boats. Although it was a private venture, the colonial government provided subsidies.
In July 1955, the colonial government bought BGA. At this time, BWIA provided management assistance. The name was later shortened to Guyana Airways.
The airline was headquartered in Georgetown, Guyana. After the airline went bankrupt in 2001, its successor, Guyana Air 2000, maintained a short-lived operation until 2003 when it also filed for insolvency.