Fly Jamaica must file new application before operations recommence – GCAA

Although new investors who have taken over Fly Jamaica Airlines intend to recommence operations in Guyana by September, Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Egbert Field has pointed out that the company must refile an application seeking approval to do so.

Colonel Field told Guyana Times on Monday that reapplying for approval to operate out of Guyana is necessary. He explained that the airline must be granted approval first from the Jamaica Aviation Authority, then file its application with Guyana.
“If they are certified and approved by the Jamaican, because it is a Jamaican-based airline not a Guyanese-based, so providing that Jamaica approved the application then they will give them the necessary permits, they will have to use that to reapply to the Civil Aviation Authority of Guyana so they will have to make an entire new application and go through the entire process for approval from Guyana also,” the Director General stated.
When it comes to having a bond set up, Field noted that the company will also be required to follow this procedure, especially since the airline presently has no existing bond.
He outlined, “I would recommend that a bond be put in place if they should make an application to Guyana…there is no bond in place at the moment”.
According to him, the company once had a bond when they were granted approval to start operations here back in the late 2000s, however, the bond was removed in 2015 after their operations changed.
On Monday it was reported that a team of investors including Jamaican aviation veteran, Glenn Logan, led by Yann LeProvost of the French-based company W&Y SAS has taken over the problem-plagued airline.
The new owners took over on Friday from Guyanese operators, Paul and Roxanne Reece. They have since pledged their commitment to addressing the issues affecting the airline, such as owed salaries to workers and compensation for tickets.
In the meantime, plans have already been announced to have the airline’s logo rebranded. In fact, Logan told the Caribbean Media Corporation that the company is considering a “complete rebrand”.
Passengers were left stranded when a Boeing 757 flight crash-landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, in November 2018 after encountering hydraulic issues.
The flight left the CJIA for Toronto at about 02:10h on November 9 from the CJIA, but the pilot returned to the airport where the aircraft crash-landed at about 02:53h.
The cash-strapped airline has since made all its workers redundant, effective from March 1, 2019. Most of the fired former employees are still awaiting their salaries as well.
Fuming passengers too are still awaiting refunds from tickets that were booked.
In May some 46 complaints were received by the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission which value about $8,316,504. However earlier this month, the agency said over 100 complaints were filed.