New airline for Guyana …
Travel Span makes first flight here
By Sharmain Grainger
Kaieteur News
December 1, 2006
Good quality customer and in-flight services complemented by affordable prices were promised when Guyana's latest airline, Travel Span GT Inc., made its inaugural flight to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport , Timehri yesterday.
The three-month-old, spanking new Boeing 737-800 aircraft descended from an overcast sky at around 13:30 hrs, to make a smooth landing, which was witnessed by several local and overseas media practitioners, governmental officials, and officials from the air travel industry.
According to Chief Executive Officer and President of Travel Span, Nohar Singh, Travel Span has the expertise to meet people's wishes, and is offering friends-and-relations type travel and leisure-type travel. The latter is expected to encourage eco-tourism locally.
Singh, a Guyanese by birth, is also CEO and President for Travel Span Vacations and Amrals Travel. He expressed confidence in his companies' ability to penetrate the local air travel market and encourage competition.
This would give customers more choices and better prices, which will ultimately bolster the local economy.
And despite the history of the local travel service, Singh said that people need to take a longevity view of the situation and not gear for inevitable failure.
“We need to change our mindset on local carriers, and be positive. With a changed mindset, a Guyanese airline will be able to succeed,” Singh said.
With the Travel Span track record of being able to grow and remain profitable, Singh said, his company has the best chance of giving a viable service to the Guyanese populace.
And while he is aware that demands are high for a mere four months a year, Singh said the company will target offline markets to ensure that its service remains viable.
Travel Span was first introduced in Guyana in 2005, and conducted a few chartered flights from Guyana to New York .
However, Travel Span sought scheduled flights when its customer base increased.
Travel Span lodged a US$200,000 bond, and the Government of Guyana granted it approval, and a license was issued in April by the Civil Aviation Authority for Travel Span GT Inc. to conduct scheduled flights.
Subsequently, the US Department of Transportation granted authorisation for the airliner, last month, to conduct scheduled flights to New York .
Scheduled flights are on Thursdays, Sundays and Monday nights, with flight operations to Port-of-Spain and New York . Fort Lauderdale , Florida will be added to its routes by mid-month.
Flights will be both non- stop and direct via Port-of-Spain, with transiting being a breeze due to a granted waiver by the US Transportation Security Administration, which will permit passengers to remain on board the aircraft.
The airliner's main headquarters is located at 69 Main Street , Georgetown , with six offices in the US and four in Trinidad , which operate as the General Sales Agents.
Travel Span GT Inc. has wet-leased the single aircraft from TEM Enterprises d/b/a Xtra Airways of Nevada, USA . The aircraft is fitted with eight first class and 156 economy class leather seats.
In-flight services will include movies, hot towels, hot meals, and free drinks, which will be provided by well-trained and experienced employees.
Several flight attendants are being trained in the USA , and as such, the plane will be temporarily crewed by Xtra Airways' cockpit and cabin crews.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr Manniram Prashad, said that Guyana welcomes the venture in spite of earlier hitches with other airlines.
“We don't want a repeat performance of other services, so we have put things in place, in the interest of customers.”
The Minister affirmed that the Government has every confidence in Singh, adding that the service will be well utilised for the Christmas season, and upcoming events such as ‘Main Big Lime', Cricket World Cup, and Mashramani.
He anticipates that with the 25,000-30,000 persons who will be arriving in Guyana for these activities, Travel Span may have to increase its scheduled flights.
He said that additionally, once foreigners and overseas-based Guyanese become more aware of the tourist attractions, including the more than 50 resorts and birding and yachting opportunities, there is likely to be an increase in tourists, and therefore a boom for the travel service industry and the economy.
Minister of Transport Robeson Benn also commended the effort of Travel Span, and urged the officials to embrace Guyana 's quest for safety and security as an adequate flight operation is provided.