Fly Jamaica may be roaming the skies between Jamaica and North America but as far as the Govern-ment of Guyana is concerned, the airline is grounded until all requirements are met as per standard international procedure.

“Government has to have information on the major investors of the undertaking,” said Minister of Works Robeson Benn. He was speaking yesterday at a press conference held at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport convened to address the pulling out of Delta Airlines from its Georgetown-New York route.

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn addressing Delta Airlines’ announcement at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Timehri.

Asked why government would be interested in the financial information for Fly Jamaica, the minister said, “The Government of Guyana, like any responsible government particularly for airlines which are coming to Guyana and have been having failures – has to be interested in whether there is viability and sustainability in financing for that operation. It is a standard requirement anywhere in the world.”

He said the Government of Guyana has to have, as is normal for these types of investment, information on the major players in the undertaking.

According to Fly Jamaica’s website, new destinations to be added are Toronto and Guyana, both subject to government approval.

Following a three-week delay, the new airline took to the skies on February 14 on a flight from John F Kennedy Airport in New York to Norman Manley International Airport Kingston Jamaica.

Fly Jamaica was incorporated in Kingston, Jamaica on August 22, 2011 and started with a Boeing 757 aircraft. “We faced a rigorous start-up process, including meeting national and international requirements,” the airline said on its website. It said that through the stewardship of its experienced management and dedication of its employees, “we proved to aviation regulators that we have what it takes to be a world-class airline.”

It said that on August 24, 2012, Fly Jamaica conducted a demonstration flight from Kingston, Jamaica to Georgetown, Guyana, as part of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority’s (JCAA) approval process; and on August 31, 2012 the JCAA issued the airline with its Air Operators Certificate (AOC).

According to the website, Fly Jamaica in order to operate as a commercial US-registered carrier also had to satisfy rigorous requirements for the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Transportation and Security Administration (TSA).