Private aviators have been challenged to establish a regional airline as Guyana positions itself as a hub for the aviation sector.
The call came during the commissioning of BK Air/Jags Aviation’s two new HAL Dornier 228 twin-engine aircraft on Saturday, where President Irfaan Ali urged local operators to capitalise on the country’s economic growth and favourable policy environment.
“I believe that our aviation players should come together and look towards developing a regional carrier because Guyana’s ambitions now seem limitless,” Ali said.
The president said the government has developed a 10-point plan that includes transforming Guyana into a regional aviation hub offering manufacturing and related aviation services.
He also challenged India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the aircraft’s manufacturer, to establish a commercial and service hub in Guyana.
“We are not interested in buying aircraft, we are demonstrating our confidence in buying, but we want you to establish a commercial hub and service hub for HAL here in Guyana. You have to build the sector here, you have to join us, we are not your marketers, we are your partners,” Ali said.
Jags Aviation offers scheduled and chartered interior flights, aerial surveying, medevac services, and private charters to the Caribbean.
The government said tax reductions, infrastructure development, and sustainable fuel subsidies are among its initiatives to reduce the cost of local air travel.
