Almost five years after adding the Guyana/New York route to its flights, US-based Delta Airlines will leave Timehri for the last time tomorrow, putting pressure on the administration to now scramble to attract other operators.
With the folding of EZjet and RedJet last year, it will only be the Trinidad-owned Caribbean Airlines left. Suriname Airways has signaled intentions to start flights along that same route in July.
Delta Airlines will be conducting its last flight from Guyana tomorrow.
Yesterday, Delta’s local Sales Manager, Junior Horatio, confirmed that a Delta flight will arrive at 07:00 hrs at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), and leave one hour later – for the last time.
Delta touched down in Guyana for the first time in June 2008, conducting three to four flights weekly between JFK and Timehri. The number of flights during peak periods became daily.
The New York/Guyana route has been a lucrative one for airlines with thousands of Guyanese living in especially the tri-State area. This was especially so for Caribbean Airlines.
The situation of one airline would worry both the government and the flying public who fear high fares will return again with only one player in the market.
It will also put Government in a defensive position especially as Guyana has sealed the deal for a new US$150M CJIA expansion which is set to start by mid-year. This latest development would also add fuel to the opposition who cut funding for the expansion from the National Budget. The opposition has been questioning the feasibility of the expansion. Government, on the other hand, has defended the project saying it will open new markets to Asia and Africa, because of Guyana’s position at the northern tip of South America.
In February, Delta Airlines, in a surprise announcement, said it was pulling out of the Guyana and cited profitability. Government said it was puzzled as from all indications, the US airline seemed to be doing well. Indications are that it was commanding near full passenger loads, this year racking up its highest percentage…89 per cent, according to Transport Minister, Robeson Benn.
Government had denied reports that Delta was unhappy because Government businesses were taken away from the airline – businesses like diplomatic bags and mail.
There were also persistent rumors that Delta was unhappy that Government was planning to grant Caribbean Airlines flag-carrier status.
Government had also denied a report that the airline was pressured after baggage belonging to former President Bharrat Jagdeo was searched.
Works Minister Robeson Benn had provided figures of how well Delta was doing, moving from 36,695 passengers between June-December 2008 to 78,221 last year.
“The Guyana aviation sector and its passengers have benefitted from the Delta experience. The ongoing and intended improvements at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, especially the slated runway extension and new terminal building, allow us to hold the door open for Delta’s rethink of its options for its engagement in Guyana,” Benn had said during a press conference in February on Delta’s planned pullout.
