TIMEHRI - Fly Jamaica Airways made its inaugural flight to Guyana on Thursday, September 26. The Jamaica-based airline was given the green light to operate two routes out of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the Guyana to New York route and the Georgetown to Toronto route.
The services will operate with a Boeing 757-200ER aircraft, with a seating configuration of 12 business and 186 economy seats.
Non-stop services from Kingston to Toronto, Canada and Toronto to Georgetown, Guyana will commence on October 8.
In a short ceremony to mark the arrival of Fly Jamaica to Guyana, Acting President and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, welcomed the passengers from Jamaica stating that the new airline would add greatly to the possibilities for Guyana.
Observing that Guyana’s economy is now 10 times greater than in the late 1980s, the Prime Minister expressed hope that tourism would be part of the new change that is approaching. He urged Guyanese to improve their surroundings.
Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn, who has responsibility for transport, highlighted the need to extend the connectivity among the countries of the region. He pointed to upcoming international events to take place within the region and which would create various opportunities. Minister Benn also explained the steps which are being taken by Guyana to better air transport, such as improving the navigation and air traffic systems.
Minister of Tourism (ag) Irfaan Ali stated that the airline had added one of the most versatile and exciting tourism destinations to its routes while at the same time promoting regional integration. He noted that travel from Jamaica to Guyana has increased by 15% this year, without the presence of Fly Jamaica.
Minister Ali committed the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) to working with the Jamaican Tourism Authority to create joint packaging arrangements for tourists visiting both destinations. He observed that the signing of Memorandums of Understanding is approximately six months away which will see Guyana and St. Lucia and Guyana and Barbados as common destinations.
Jamaicans artistes who arrived on the flight, including Shal Marshall, served as ambassadors for their country and enjoyed the welcome they were accorded.
TIMEHRI - Chief Executive Officer of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Ramesh Ghir, is livid over comments made by a Fly Jamaica Airways executive about the perceived lax security at the Airport.
On Saturday during a press conference Director of Finance and Commerce Roxanne Reece stated that she would like to see a more reliable and efficient security system at CJIAC.
However, Ghir responded. Below is his full statement:
“It is very disappointing and unfortunate that a director of Fly Jamaica would choose to publicly address her concerns about drug incidents at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) without first engaging the airport authorities about such anxiety.
As Chairman of the Airport Security Committee and head of the Airport Corporation I can safely say that no such concern was ever raised with us; not even at the level of the Board of Directors.
We will be happy to engage the staff and directors of Fly Jamaica to address any security related questions that they may have. The airport’s Corporation and its Security Committee remain steadfast to continuously working with its stakeholders to improve passengers’ experience.
We remain very excited and look forward to Fly Jamaica getting on board!”
