Guyana Airways 2000 takes to the skies on June 17
by Wendella Davidson
GUYANA's first privately owned and operated National Flag Carrier, Guyana Airways 2000, will take to the skies on Thursday, June 17 with an inaugural flight to Toronto, Canada. The new company, sporting the colours red, blue and yellow, will operate an A300-600R Airbus and will create history as the first National Flag Carrier of Guyana to be fully owned and operated by Guyanese. The Guyana Government retains a number shares in the enterprise. The airline will fly every day of the week, offering six non-stop flights to New York and two to Toronto and New York in the modern wide-bodied aircraft, at "absolutely" competitive prices. This was explained yesterday by Chairman of GA 2000 Incorporated, Mr Yesu Persaud. He made the announcement at the first local press briefing convened by the company at its Main Street headquarters, formerly that of the defunct Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC). According to Persaud, all arrangements are in place for the Thursday, June 17 inaugural flight. Persaud described GA 2000 as a new airline, representing an investment in the future of Guyana's aviation industry and a commitment to provide Guyana with a national flagship that is committed to serving Guyanese as its principal customers. He said the airline's mission is to offer Guyanese an international service of excellence, with a distinctive Guyanese character, adding, that the company looks forward to the support of the Guyanese people in meeting the challenge. According to the GA 2000 Chairman, the schedule for departure and arrival are designed particularly to serve the convenience of the Guyanese passengers, especially those who have to travel long distances from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. It affords too, ample opportunity for long distance travellers to make flights and avoid the expense of overnighting. Commenting on the "wet lease" arrangement of the Airbus, with which the company entered with `Nordstress', a major Australian carrier, Persaud said, it provides full back-up support services, and avoids any possibility of the unavailability of an aircraft. Provision is made too, for Guyanese cabin crew to be on board while GA 2000 pilots undergo training, in anticipation of a "dry lease" arrangement under which the aircraft will be completely operated and staffed by GA 2000 crew. "It is a requirement for us in order to qualify internationally as a national Flag Carrier, to operate a dry lease within a period of 12 months," Persaud pointed out. However, though schedules are already out for a non-stop route to New York, Persaud said the airline has not yet gotten the `green light' for landing rights in the United States of America. Negotiations are ongoing though, and Persaud told reporters he is optimistic that the issue will be sorted out in a matter of days. Persaud emphasised that the management of GA 2000 will be in total control of the operations of the airline. When asked the reason for selecting Toronto as its launch destination, the leading Guyanese industrialist said that the eagerness of a number of passengers there prompted the decision. He was, however, quick to point out that it must not be mistaken that a similar situation does not exist in New York. He said, too, that a number of former GAC staffers have been recruited by GA 2000, but that their selection was based on their success at an examination and an assessment of their aptitude. Present with Persaud at yesterday's brief were, Mr Anthony Mekdeci, Chief Executive Officer (CEO); Ms Karen Whitehead, Secretary; Mr Michael McDermott, Financial Adviser; Mr Terrence Simon, Accountant; and Ms Joyce Persaud, Chief Cabin Attendant. Absent was Mr Malcolm Chan-A-Sue, Operations Manager. The GA 2000 Board of Directors in addition to Persaud and Mekdeci, comprises Mr Vickram Oditt, Vice Chairman; Ms Carole Hebert, Secretary; and Directors, Messrs Michael Correia (Jnr), Stanley Ming, Maurice Solomon and Feroze Mohamed.
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