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EZjet launches direct service to Canada
….US$675 for round trip, flights offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays
EZjet Air Services Inc. will now be offering direct flights to Toronto, Canada, with a Boeing 767-200, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
EZjet CEO, Sonny Ramdeo
This was reiterated yesterday at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) where a press conference was held for the inaugural flight.
In attendance were Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn, acting Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali, Canadian High Commissioner, David Devine, amongst other special invitees and EZjet staff.
EZjet started to provide its service on December 16, 2011 with flights from Guyana to New York. It has flown approximately 300 hundred flights to date, and is now introducing another route and aircraft to its services.
The craft for the Toronto route has 218 seats.
EZjet’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sonny Ramdeo said a feasibility study was done between August 2011 to July 2012 which shows that 57,000 passengers flew between Guyana and Toronto. This, he pointed out, represents approximately $24M in revenue.
“Based on that feasibility study, added with stimulating the market with a lower fare, we expect that to go to 65,000 passengers on an annual basis.”
Adding that there will be two flights weekly, Ramdeo said if air traffic necessitates, there will be three flights per week, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
He explained that EZ Jet has set a standard for other airlines to be more competitive. However, while it was his intention to supplement the service, there was also a promise to deliver a high quality service.
“Our traffic number speaks confidently about this…now from Toronto to Guyana return, our average fare is US$675 round trip. We are looking forward for the public support. When we launched this airline, it was based on consumer needs. We are offering additional baggage at a lower cost, this would be beneficial also to traders,” Ramdeo explained.
Master of Ceremonies Kit Nascimento commenced proceedings by saying that despite the naysayers coming from “one particular section of the media, whom I notice are absent today (yesterday)” development was obvious.
“I always find it difficult to understand why anyone of our media would immediately begin to be negative about a new initiative that is intended to benefit the growth and well-being of the country,” Nascimento said.
The Boeing 767-200 before its inaugural flight to Toronto
Minister Ali, meanwhile, congratulated Canadian High Commissioner, David Devine, on supporting the flight services offered. He explained that in August, Miss Canada 2012, along with a supporting group, will be visiting Guyana to “place their faces on destination Guyana,” to enhance and market the country’s tourism.
“They will create more than 39 episodes of reality television to be broadcast through the social media network touching more than 800 million potential customers,” Ali disclosed. “This would offer more opportunities of airlines coming from Canada.”
However, Ali explained that there has been an analysis from a special organisation called “Roots” which disclosed that Guyana has potential in becoming a tourist destination and a refueling hub for in-transit flights to the African continent and other countries.
Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn said the idea is to develop Guyana as a whole and to provide quality aircraft services.
Government has agreed to invest US$150M to enhance CJIA.
“Our airport has been under scrutiny with respect to its plans and development. I want to say that Government remains committed to develop CJIA. Suriname is planning to invest US$70M in making their facility larger and which would be in competition with our own arrangement to develop our airport.” Benn disclosed.
“We want to add a 1000-metre extension to the runway, and persons would like to have more room, comfort and space.”
He declared that squatters in the vicinity of the airport where the runway will be extended will be removed, since several notices were sent to them, and he noted that multiple discussions were held with residents in this regard. Benn said these persons will be removed to facilitate the expansion of CJIA, and to allow proper order of national development.
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