Travel Span outlines plans as inaugural flight arrives
By Shawnel Cudjoe
Guyana Chronicle
December 1, 2006
CHIEF Executive Officer of Travel Span GT Inc, Mr. Nohar Singh announced plans to fly beyond Guyana, too, when the airline’s much anticipated inaugural flight from New York arrived yesterday.
Speaking to a gathering, that included Government Ministers and other officials, as well as the first passengers, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, he outlined plans for the sustainability and viability of the business.
He told those gathered in the Executive Lounge that a “collective and cooperative” approach would ensure that the airline enjoys longevity,
Singh also challenged fellow nationals to change their negative perception about the success rate of Guyanese managed businesses.
“We go out into the international arena in the United States and Europe and we do very well and there is no reason why, with the change of mindset, the Guyanese airline will not be able to sustain itself with a viable operation,” he declared.
Singh said the company will be looking to offer flights to Caribbean countries, Brazil and Venezuela, as it seeks to make sure the operations are successful.
He said the airline will soon be offering eco-tourism packages to Guyana and activities such as trade shows and familiarisation trips to get more people coming to this country.
Singh said, with its structure, experience and ability to take on the challenges of the aviation industry and observing the country’s track record with both national and privately-run airlines, Travel Span has the best chance of giving Guyanese a viable service.
“We will do what it takes to give you a sustainable national airline with the ability to compete, so the people of Guyana can benefit from affordable fares and reliable service,” the CEO pledged.
Singh said, with technical experience, vision, expertise and heart, he is confident that Travel Span GT Inc will be successful.
He commended the Guyana Government on its perception of the private sector and acknowledged: “We are dealing with a government that understands the private sector and its business.”
Singh also praised the government for looking out for consumers and ensuring they have proper protection.
He said the government insisted that US$200,000 was lodged before the carrier could operate, in case it encounters trouble further along.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad maintained that the deposit must be made because, in the past, persons have come into the market and, two years later, passengers who were left stranded looked to the government for reimbursement.
“It is in our interest to make sure that we put things in place in the interest of consumers,” he stated.
However, he said the government is confident Singh can deliver because he is not “a fly-by-night operator”and has been in the business for some time.
Prashad encouraged more carriers to come into the Guyana market and foster competition from which consumers will benefit.
Although the focus is now on Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007, the tourism industry wants to assure that visitors and especially members of the diaspora return to see the developments taking place here, he said.
The state-of-the-art Boeing 737-800 aircraft touched down on the Timehri runway at 13:30 h with 124 passengers.
The aircraft has leather seats and first class service, comfortable seating with 32 inches of leg room, the newest in-flight entertainment seats for 164 persons, eight of which are first class.
It is on lease from Xtra Airways, a U.S. carrier that operates six Boeing 737-400 and 737-800 airplanes and is partially owned by Avion, a European conglomerate.
Xtra owns Excel Airways, Excel Holidays, Excel Aviation, Air Atlanta, Freedom Flights, Travelcity Direct and many other companies with a combined fleet of at least 68 aircraft.
The one that came yesterday is three months old, having recorded 500 miles, Travel Span Director, Mr. George Paulos said.
He said Xtra has been in existence for the past three years and has four offices in Trinidad and Tobago, including a call centre, four in the U.S. and one in Guyana.
Travel Span GT was incorporated locally in August 2002 and, in December of that year, operated a few charter flights between Guyana and New York.
In 2005 the company applied for scheduled flights between Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, New York and Ft Lauderdale, Florida and, following the government approval, a licence was issued, in April 2006, by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
The next scheduled flight is on Thursday, non-stop from Guyana to New York.