Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
TravelSpan all set for mid-December return
Guyana is on track for additional flights on the New York/Guyana route from mid-December, TravelSpan has confirmed.
The company’s President, Nohar Singh, speaking with Kaieteur News on Friday from New York, disclosed that interviews have already started to hire flight attendants with the final paperwork for permission to be submitted to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) this week. The training for the attendants will begin on November 11.
TravelSpan’s President, Nohar Singh
The additional flights would be more than welcome by Guyanese who have been facing high fares over the past year. Two airlines, Redjet and EzJet, folded spectacularly last year, leaving only Delta and Caribbean Airlines.
However, the US airline pulled out earlier this year, later citing unfair competition from Caribbean Airlines, which is owned by Trinidad and Tobago and which was controversially receiving fuel subsidies.
While the addition of partially Guyanese-owned Fly Jamaica to the New York/Guyana route in recent months have lessened fears that the coming holiday season may see a repeat of the fare situation earlier this year, the Government has been actively attempting to persuade other operators.
The New York destination has long been one eyed by operators because of the number of Guyanese living there. It is one of the more profitable routes also for Caribbean Airlines.
According to Singh, one-way fares to New York will start as low as US$234 and US$439 for business class.
Last week, GCAA’s Director General, Zulficar Mohamed, reported that TravelSpan has a few documents to submit as part of the permission process. TravelSpan will also have to lodge a US$200,000 cash bond, one of the major requirements for operators.
Some passengers complained of paying up to US$1,600 for a return ticket earlier this year as Caribbean Airlines controlled the route. Officials were summoned to Guyana to explain.
TravelSpan is collaborating with US-owned Vision Airlines which will be using one of its 767 planes.
“Interviews to fill flight attendant positions are already under way and the company will continue the hiring process in the upcoming weeks; flights will be staffed with both Caribbean and American flight attendants. Flight attendants will undergo training starting from November 11,” the TravelSpan official said.
Already there are high interests with flights set for Thursdays and Saturdays. TravelSpan is also introducing New York/Trinidad flights with these expected for Tuesdays and Fridays.
Singh, who has other business interests in Guyana and one of the more popular travel agencies in Trinidad and New York, is no stranger to Guyana. His company has been around for more than two decades. “We don’t anticipate any delays and do look forward to December 14.”
TravelSpan will be using a 767 Boeing plane from US-owned Vision Airlines.
Back in September, TravelSpan announced that it has signed contracts with Vision Airlines, a Las Vegas plane company to conduct the charters using a wide-body Boeing 767 plane. Vision has backup planes in case of problems.
Singh noted that TravelSpan is wary of the business model used by operators, EZjet and Red Jet, in which ticket prices were too low, making it practically impossible to turn a profit.
The Boeing 767 will offer 214 economy and 18 business class seats. (Leonard Gildarie)
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