JetBlue airlines, Guyana in talks

Last Updated on Monday, 14 September 2015, 17:58 by GxMedia

Miramar, Florida, September 14- The US airline Jet Blue has initiated discussions with the new Government of Guyana about its interest in introducing service from America to Guyana. The initial talks were held last Thursday here on the sidelines of the Florida Conference on Current Caribbean Issues: The Diaspora Discussion at which both Guyana’s Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge and Jet Blue’s VicePresident for Network Planning, Dave Clark were key participants.

Following the less than hour-long meeting both Greenidge and Clark expressed satisfaction with the initial talks which are to be followed up with a team from the airline visiting Guyana to address in more detail specific issues with the relevant government ministries and agencies.

“Jet Blue has indicated its interest in providing service to Guyana and I have indicated to the airline that Guyana is ready to welcome them. There are some specific issues such as fuel costs in Guyana and others that have to be addressed but I would say they now have a clear indication that they are welcome and we are prepared to examine and seek to resolve the issues about which they have concerns,” Foreign Minister Greenidge said following the meeting.

It is widely speculated that Jet Blue is “eyeing” service to Guyana out of Miami initially via a stop over in a Caribbean destination such as Barbados and later introducing service from New York direct to Guyana once it acquires its fleet of aircraft that can handle long hauls.

Guyanese in the Diaspora have been advocating for the introduction of additional passenger air service to Guyana by carriers offering service from destinations around the US that can connect to its service to Guyana.

Photo attached: Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge and Jet Blue’s David Clark in discussions in the gardens at Miramar City Hall in Florida.