Govt. will tap into Eastern Airlines bond if passengers not refunded

Eastern Airlines announced earlier this week that it has decided to suspend its Guyana service until further notice. It has advised the affected passengers that they will get their money back for tickets already bought.

Govt. will tap into Eastern Airlines bond if passengers not refunded

The Public Works Ministry is assuring passengers of Eastern Airlines who are affected by the airline’s sudden suspension of service to Guyana that it will tap into a bond that the airline lodged with the government, if it fails to repay them for their tickets.

Eastern Airlines announced earlier this week that it has decided to suspend its Guyana service until further notice.  It has advised the affected passengers that they will get their money back for tickets already bought.

The move by the airline came as a surprise to its customers, travel agents and the Government since there was no previous indication that it was going to suspend operations.

In a statement, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority announced that the airline had lodged a US$250,000 bond with the Public Works Ministry when it started operations.

If the airline fails to repay the passengers, the Government will use the money to ensure passengers are refunded.

The airline has blamed the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic and new travel restrictions in place in the United States for its decision.

It has noted a considerable number of cancellations since the US imposed tougher requirements for arriving passengers.

Airline officials told the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority that once the travel restrictions are removed, it will consider a return to the Guyana market.

Eastern Airlines began its operations a year ago. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline cashed in big as it was the only carrier granted permission for repatriation flights.

Since the reopening of the airport and the return of other airlines, Eastern has seen a big reduction in its passenger load.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login