GA 2000 eyes other routes
Guyana Airways 2000 will be expanding its service to as many as six more destinations, Board Chairman Yesu Persaud disclosed at a reception hosted by the company at the Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel on Saturday night. A number of businessmen from Miami, USA arrived in the country on Friday night, compliments of GA 2000 for the formal launching of the Miami route. GA 2000 started its Miami service on November 14. The national carrier, privately-owned in partnership with government is currently flying to New York, Toronto and Miami. Without naming any company, Persaud said GA 2000's competitors have indicated that they have lost money since the locally-owned national carrier entered the market. He said the response has been good and that passengers were pleased with the service. The Chairman did not name the new destinations, but Stabroek News understands that neighbouring Suriname is being considered as well as a possible link with Richard Branson's Virgin Air to London, England. Chief Executive Officer of the company, Anthony Mekdeci said government as a partner, was being looked to for assistance to help meet the challenge of expanding to new markets, thereby offering even more reliable and improved services and guaranteeing sustainable profitability for the investors. He said GA 2000's investment, especially in the early phase of its operations in providing a high quality service and expanding passenger capacity to meet the maximum demand came at a cost. Mekdeci noted that the government had provided tremendous support from the inception to ensure the viability of the company. However, he said, GA 2000 has to compete with long established airlines, which have the blessings and in most cases the financial backing of their governments. The CEO said governments of other Caribbean territories had come to the support of their national airline and this government as a partner would be looked to for similar aid to meet the challenges faced by the company. Mekdeci announced that GA 2000 has surpassed the market share held by the former Guyana Airways Corporation to New York and Toronto in its best years. GA 2000's entry into the market, he said, has resulted in a substantial reduction in passenger airfares and freight costs to North America. The competition has forced airfares to their lowest ever and there are no waiting lists for a seat. The GA 2000 reception was hosted to announce the introduction of a second wide-bodied A 300 airbus.
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