Home Top Stories Govt continues talks with Qatar Airlines, other int’l carriers to ply Guyana...
– emphasises importance of improving aviation sector
Guyana continues to have talks with a number of airlines, including those from Qatar, Ghana and South Africa to operate the Guyana route, but Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill has also emphasised the importance of investing in the human resource capacity of the aviation sector.
Guyana’s attractiveness as an investment destination has stoked the interest of airlines around the world to operate flights here. Such destinations include Qatar, Ghana and even South Africa, all of whom Public Works Minister Juan Edghill noted the Government remains interested in having talks with.
The Minister was at the time speaking at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA) safety seminar, where he referenced the importance of continuing to lift Guyana’s aviation standards when it comes to not only technology but human resource capacity.
“The last thing a pilot wants is to come from a long flight and can’t land. We have to have improved conditions to ensure they are confident that they can land. So, we want to talk to Qatar Air about coming to Guyana, Ethiopian Air about coming to Guyana, KLM (KLM Royal Dutch Airlines) to come to Guyana, and Ghana Air to come to Guyana. Possibly South Africa too.”
“When they finish all those long flights, we must be able to have the technology and the people properly trained to ensure that no matter what the condition, rain, fog… they can land in Guyana. So, today’s investment in this seminar is to ensure our performance is optimal,” Edghill said.
The Minister recalled that there was a time when pilots being unable to land was a common occurrence. Now, however, he reported that this has been reduced. He noted that the training of aviation personnel in using Air Navigation Services (ANS) equipment, has played a major role.
“There was a time in Guyana when we used to have flights returning or being diverted. Because of conditions, they couldn’t land, particularly in the morning hours. With the technology equipment and training of our people in ANS, such occurrences have been reduced significantly… reduced by 90 per cent. And that is good,” the Minister said.
Guyana had signed an air services agreement as far back as 2018 with Ghana, initiating the process to facilitate direct flights between Guyana and Ghana. The agreement was signed after the hosting of the third African Diaspora Meeting, where an assessment had found that it usually takes more than 38 hours to fly from a Caribbean country to Africa.
An air service agreement was also signed with Qatar in 2019. The agreement had permitted Qatar’s national carrier, Qatar Airways, to operate any number of passenger and cargo flights as well as cooperation between the carriers concerned. It had been reported at the time that Qatar Airways would be given permission to have an operation centre in Guyana to fly to any country in the Region and other regions as well.
This potential link would open a route for passengers wishing to head to Asia, or to destinations in Africa. Additionally, it had been reported that a Qatar central hub would open up massive connectivity opportunities for the citizens of Guyana.
Meanwhile, an agreement was inked between Guyana and Saudi Arabia in 2022, to promote and facilitate the expansion of international air services opportunities between the two countries. Presently, there is no direct flight operating between the two countries. With the new document, airlines can now ply the route, thereby widening connections, trade and economic growth.
There have also been talks about Ethiopian Airlines flying the Guyana route on a scheduled basis. The airline, which recently brought over 250 delegates to the second AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF23), has copped the ‘Best Airlines in Africa’ award on several occasions from Skytrax World Airlines Awards.
It was also announced earlier this year that the Government is looking to expand flight options to Europe through the Netherlands, by working to get the flagship carrier of the Netherlands – KLM Royal Dutch Airlines – to operate direct flights here. (Jarryl Bryan)
