GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Caribbean Airlines may be Guyana’s next national flag carrier as Guyana moves to increase passenger traffic.

Guyana president Jagdeo meets with Caribbean Airlines CEO Perter Davies. GINA Photo

This was revealed by the Head of State President Bharrat Jagdeo at the first Tourism Conference: Moving Guyana’s Tourism Forward at the Guyana International Conference Centre.

“We are now discussing the proposal, I think it might be controversial, to give Caribbean Airlines our national flag carrier status and in exchange for that, we have some six flights originating from Guyana going to North America so we can by-pass the hassle in Trinidad and Tobago and other countries,” the President remarked during his address to participants at the Conference.

Talks on the proposal were facilitated between President Jagdeo and Caribbean Airlines’ Chief Executive Officer Peter Davies when they met last month at State House.

At that meeting ideas on how Government could team up with the Regional carrier to boost Guyana’s tourism statistics was a prominent part of the talks.

However, Jagdeo said the talks were more than just seeking ways to boost tourist influx from North America, but to stimulate regional flight demand to Guyana.

“We are talking about Caribbean Airlines partnering with us not just to advertise industry to extra regional markets but focusing on regional markets because I think this is very important. We could easily get 30,000 from the Caribbean travelling into Guyana because of what we have to offer,” Jagdeo said.

Davies, following the talks had conceded Caribbean Airlines’ move to explore direct flights to the Big Apple, escaping the hassles that presently accompany in transit flights to the country.

Lack of finance had caused major problems for Guyana Airways which left the country without a national carrier. British West Indian Airways (BWIA) which serviced the Guyana routes graced the skies for the last time last year due to similar circumstances. Davies however, insisted that Caribbean Airlines is financially stable and the future looks good.

He said, “Now that Caribbean Airlines is financially firm and more secure than the previous regime, the operational performance is a lot better. Clearly, we are in a much better position as an airline and to be more confident about the future.”

Jagdeo was given a progress report on the Airlines operations since it took to the skies on January 1, 2007.