GA 2000 to land in US through simultaneous reciprocal approval
Government paved the way for Guyana Airways (GA) 2000 to land in the United States when it granted North American Airlines permission to operate a service to Guyana based on "simultaneous reciprocal approval". North American had lodged a complaint with the US Department of Transport (DOT) objecting to the new national flag carrier flying to that country. According to reports, North American had objected on the grounds that it had not received a positive response to an application it had made to the Guyana Air Transport Authority to operate a service from the US to Guyana. Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Anthony Xavier, yesterday confirmed that government had approved the application on a "simultaneous reciprocal approval" which would allow GA 2000 to operate commercially in the US. Chief Executive Officer of GA 2000, Anthony Mekdeci, in an invited comment, said the information on the approval of North American's application was communicated to the US DOT. He said things were "moving along" and the airline expects to hear from the US authorities by weekend or early next week. He said no official date for the first flight has been set as yet. However, knowledgeable sources indicate that GA 2000 could have its first flight on July 1. The new company, Aviation Investment Inc, which comprises several local businessmen and members of the Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana making up the majority 51 percent and government the remaining 49 percent, has had a bumpy ride so far. The first flight to Toronto which was scheduled for June 17, had to be postponed because the Canadian regulatory authorities had not completed the process for the issue of the appropriate approvals to Nordstress, the Australian operator from which GA 2000 had chartered its airbus. According to reports, this problem has not been solved as yet. (Desiree Jodah) 
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