GUYANA: WestJet Not Interested In Flying To Guyana

Canada’s second largest airline, Westjet, said that it has no plans to operate to Guyana, and distanced itself from a statement made by Wesley Kirton, director of the Roraima Group of Companies, at the Caribbean Aviation Handlers Association (CAHA) symposium in Guyana recently that the airline is looking to enter the Guyana market.

The airline said that it did not release or authorize Kirton’s statement apologising for the absence of the West Jet representative, Beverly Garcia- Cottrell due to a personal emergency:

“I am asked to convey to the meeting her regrets for not being here but to convey to the Guyanese authorities WestJet’s commitment to looking at serving the Guyana market and to advise that WestJet will send a delegation to Guyana shortly to initiate discussions with the authorities here.”

Kirton added that a one-on-one meeting had been set up for Garcia-Cottrell, a manager at WestJet, with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

WestJet has denied all of this.

WestJet representative, Lauren Steward, said WestJet did not issue any statement – the statement that you have is from your government not WestJet. As I mentioned, and reconfirmed, WestJet does not have any plans to operate to Guyana.

When asked to contact Garcia-Cottrell, WestJet did not answer that part of the email.

There are, however, unconfirmed reports that a date for Garcia-Cottrell to meet with the GCAA has been scheduled.

Toronto and New York City have a large Guyanese diaspora community and airlift from these cities to Guyana is very limited and of poor quality.

Meanwhile, GCAA director general, Egbert Field said that, while other carriers have signaled their intent to enter the Guyana market, there have been no concrete decisions made.

“We do not disclose anything until an application is made. Then we know that they are serious,” he added.


Tourism Observer