Threatened by the Guyana Government, that the country’s flag carrier status could be revoked, regional carrier Caribbean Airlines has given an undertaking to immediately review its fare structure for Guyana.
Over the weekend, a high level Caribbean Airlines team headed by the company’s Chairman visited Guyana to hold talks with the Guyana Government. The meeting was requested by the President of Guyana following complaints from several persons about the high prices Caribbean Airlines was charging for flights to and from Guyana.
Passengers have been comparing about the fare structure which saw many of them being offered flights to New York from Guyana for as much as US$1300 during the “summer” peak season. The same fare would usually go for just over US$600 in the off peak season.
A press statement from the Guyana Government Information Agency said the meeting achieved many of its objectives.
“The meeting sought to address key and critical issues such as the customer service of Caribbean Airlines, in-transit process and security checks of Guyanese passengers at Piarco International Airport, Caribbean Airlines’ capacity, airfare, and Caribbean Airline’s flag carrier status”, the release said.
According to GINA, representing Guyana were Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Minister of Public Works and Transport Minister Robeson Benn, private sector representatives, representatives from the THAG, GTA and Cheddi Jagan International Airport CEO, Mr. Ramesh Ghir while the Caribbean Airlines team from Trinidad, accompanied by Airport Manager Mr Carl Stuart, included Chairman of the Board Mr Philip Marshall, Corporate Secretary Nalini Lalla and Mr CEO (ag) Jagmohan Singh.
According to Minister Ali, this engagement is critical to combating the negative perceptions perpetuated against Caribbean Airlines. Given this fact, the minister assured that the Government, and by extension the people of Guyana, recognise the role that Caribbean Airlines has played in attempting to fill the gap in Guyana’s airlift capacity.
GINA said Minister Ali also impressed upon the need for both Caribbean Airlines and Government of Guyana to improve the partnership and to formulate a strategy that would define the way forward in the best interest of all stakeholders involved.
The Caribbean Airlines Chairman said “the people of Guyana are important to the heartbeat of Caribbean Airlines,” and the fact that the delegation is meeting with the Government and private sector representatives points to its willingness to forge new partnerships.One of the critical means of accomplishing this, he added, was to establish a formal communication structure through which important concerns can be quickly directed to the senior management of Caribbean Airlines.
“To reiterate, Caribbean Airlines Chairman said that although there are constraints Caribbean Airlines will continue to build improved partnerships with the Guyanese travellers. On the issue of pricing, the Chairman said that the next step is for Caribbean Airlines to review the current price structure so that all customers can benefit”, the statement from the Government Information Agency concluded.
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