Latest update April 28th, 2026 12:30 AM
CAL is responding to Guyanese concerns
Dear Editor,
According to reports in your paper (Kaieteur News), Red Jet will take to the sky very soon plying some Caribbean routes to and from Guyana. Passengers have complained about service and fares to and from Guyana from the carriers that currently service the sector.
Hopefully, the Red Jet competition will lead to improved service and lower fares from all the carriers that fly into CJIA. But we have to wait and see what Red Jet is offering and not burn our bridges with CAL which has been servicing Guyana loyally for several decades.
A recent letter complained that Guyanese “have been forced to pay high fares and enjoy substandard service for the sort of money they are paying”. In my view, CAL service has improved in recent months and the airline is making a serious effort to respond to complaints from Guyanese.
Still, there is room for improvement and the airline management has committed to improving service. We have to give CAL’s new management and chairmanship some time to respond to complaints lodged by the Tourism Minister and the President.
Apparently, CAL’s new board and management have been listening and looking at ways to improving service. The carrier announced that it would like to run a non-stop service from JFK to CJIA and this is likely to begin by the summer.
One complaint made by Guyanese is the long wait for connecting service to and from Guyana at Piarco. CAL’s board management, head by Messrs Nicholas and Jaikaran, in a recent visit to Guyana met President Jagdeo and committed to cut the waiting time for in transit flights at Port-Of -Spain as well as to take measures to reduce fares.
They also pledged a cargo service to assist Guyanese farmers ship perishables to North America and the Caribbean. Under the new board, CAL’s fares have gone down slightly from JFK, and flights have also been added during that segment.
It seems, therefore, that talks and negotiations work. The Guyana Government needs to do more of that with CAL’s board expressing concerns hurting travelers.
Guyana is the most lucrative market for CAL and I am certain the new management will do its utmost best to please Guyanese as it should to retain passengers’ loyalty.
Vishnu Bisram
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