Govt. not contemplating making Caribbean Airlines national flag carrier

Jan 09, 2020 News

Government is not at the moment contemplating Caribbean Airlines (CAL) as bearing the flag of Guyana.

CAL flights

It would have eventually also allowed the airline to conduct direct flights between Guyana and US.
The Trinidad and Tobago-headquartered airline recently said that the Government of Guyana and authorities of the US are the ones who have the final say to direct flights to that high-demand market.
During a review of the performance of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) during 2019, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, was clear that the matter is not a simple one.
Rather, it has to do with CAL being a flag carrier and then, there is the question of value for money.
“Right now I don’t think we have been contemplating it.”
Patterson pointed out that CAL and its predecessor, BWIA, have faithfully been flying decades.
He urged them to continue.
“It is a complicated issue because granting it does not guarantee prices will go down.”
According to the Minister, he has been working with airlines, granting concessions but there has always been “no guarantee: that prices will go down and stay down.
In addition to travel agents, the Minister would have met with representatives of the CAL, American Airline and COPA, among others.
CAL would be worried as it is facing stiff competition now.
American Airlines is now conducting New York flights and Eastern Airline and low-fare Jet Blue will soon be joining.
Recently, CAL called on Guyana and the US to clear the hurdles that will allow direct flights.
Currently passengers using CAL to and from North America has to stop in Trinidad.
The airline insisted it has met all regulatory requirements.
The call was made in a statement which came days after a study recommended that Guyana explore the possibilities of a state-sponsored airline which will help reduce high fares.
“Caribbean Airlines has met all of the requirements to facilitate non-stop travel between Guyana and the United States of America. However, the final regulatory approval to permit such lies within the jurisdiction of the Government of Guyana and the United States authorities to grant permission of same. The airline is looking forward with much anticipation for this authorization to be granted.”
The route has been a major revenue earner for the airline but with the absence of competition, the criticisms of high fares have been many.
CAL admitted that the fact that passengers have to in-transit in Trinidad is a major inconvenience.
According to CAL, in its statement, it has with its predecessor, BWIA, faithfully served Guyana since 1947.
“While other providers have come and gone, Caribbean Airlines has maintained its commitment to Guyana regardless of whether times are good or bad.
Like all airlines in the current commercial climate, Caribbean Airlines faces intense competition and constant upward pressure on overall costs while also trying to invest for the future.”
The airline said that it has, and continues to carefully manage ticket prices for the Guyana CAL, in fact, argued yesterday that ticket prices of foreign carriers operating into and out of Guyana are in fact regularly higher, particularly with respect to fares that include a checked bag.

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