With major plans in the pipeline to expand its services beyond Guyana, Jags Aviation Incorporated has invested some US.5 million to construct a hangar at the Eugene F Correia International Airport in Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
The sod turning ceremony for the modern multimillion-dollar aircraft facility was done on Tuesday at Ogle by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and Alana Tiwarie, Executive of BK International, the company which took over Jags Aviation in 2014.
The new hangar will be constructed at the southern end of the airport, which facilitates mainly domestic and regional flights in and out of the country. The hangar will contain state-of-the-art conveniences necessary for the maintenance and protection of the company’s fleet of five aircraft.
Owner of BK International, Brian Tiwarie; his daughter, Alana and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at the site of Jags’ Aviation hangar
It was disclosed that company officials are preparing to travel to Miami to take possession of a new aircraft to add to the fleet, with the hopes of expanding Jags’ services to Caribbean destinations. At its establishment, Jags Aviation was given Cabinet’s approval to acquire as many as 15 aircraft, including a helicopter.
Owner of BK International, Brian Tiwarie, told media operatives at the sod turning ceremony that his company has been breaking new ground in the local aviation sector over the past two years and he was confident that this trend would continue.
“We think that we can make a big input into the aviation sector. We are just over a year old and we already acquired five aircraft,” he pointed out.
The local business tycoon went on to say that his company was not competing with the other operators, but was operating on a level of its own.
“We are buying aircraft actually, totally different from the other operators and that’s costing us a lot more because have to train people more. Only last week, we just had two trainers here from Poland,” Tiwarie stated.
Meanwhile, Minister Harmon welcomed the investment and lauded the company for contributing to the development of the Eugene F Correia International Airport, which has undergone massive transformation over the years.
“We have seen a lot of development taking place here at Ogle and it is in keeping with President (David) Granger’s commitment to ensure that we have a quality service provided to our hinterland,” he stated.
The Minister noted that traffic to the hinterland has increased significantly; hence, the need for improved services.
“This development here is going to improve the quality of service provided here… the hinterland is the heart and lungs of Guyana and to the extent to which we can provide quality service to the hinterland, it is to that extent that Guyana will develop and develop rapidly,” Harmon stated.
Jags’ Aviation is currently housed in the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) hangar. As such, the company has assured that it would be returning the favour and would be offering space at its new state-of-the-art hangar to small carriers operating at the airport.
