Caribbean L 6 ife, Sept. 27 - Oct.3, 2019
JetBlue Airways to begin fl ying between JFK Airport and Georgetown,
Guyana.
JetBlue Airways to fly
between JFK and Guyana
By Tangerine Clarke
Since U.S, airline JetBlue, announced
it will increase its route map to include
Georgetown, Guyana, travelers have
scrambled to book tickets to travel on
the new A321neo plane that will begin
non-stop service from New York’s JFK
to Guyana’s Cheddi Jagan International
Airport (GEO), on April 2, 2020.
According to several reports, seats are
already available for purchase via www.
jetblue.com, from as low as USD$550
to $651.
The Guyana service introduces a
diverse and underserved destination to
the JetBlue route map which will benefit
both leisure travelers, as well as
those visiting friends and relatives, said
Andre Lucco, JetBlue, director of route
planning.
Lusso explained that just as the airline
has done in its South American markets
in Columbia, Ecuador and Peru, “we’re
introducing a new, low fare high-quality
choice to travelers to Guyana.”
The daily schedule flights between
New York (JFK) and Georgetown (GEO)
Flight #1965 will depart JFK, at 11:55
pm and arrive at 5:38 am.
The GEO - JFK Flight #1966 will
depart at 7:20 am and arrive at 1:09
pm.
Nohar Singh, chief executive officer /
owner of the Queens travel agency, TravelSpan,
applauded JetBlue’s upcoming
new non-stop service to Georgetown,
Guyana, noting that it would be a welcoming
addition to the market.
“After losing a few charter services,
and Dynamic Airways over the years and
the recent cancellations of Fly Jamaica
operations, the Guyana market has been
in need of a low-cost carrier, and with
over 25 years of service and knowledge
of Guyana, TravelSpan customers and
Guyana will benefit greatly from its relationship
with JetBlue, and the opportunity
for a third choice of carrier,” said
Singh.
He indicated that with more seats,
“we believe, fares will drop, which is
what Guyanese travelers have requested
TravelSpan bring to the table.”
He said with trained travel professionals
and 10 office locations in the US,
Guyana and Trinidad, plus online bookings
at Travelspan.com, customers will
have more opportunities to capitalize on
the best deals in the market.
However, another travel agent, who
wishes to remain anonymous, said passengers
were ecstatic to learn about the
new service, but were dissatisfied when
they learned that they would have to pay
for both pieces of checked luggage.
According to the agent, the airline,
despite announcing that it will begin
service, has not yet received full permission
from the government of Guyana to
fly the route.
As such, seats are only being sold to
travel in April 2020. Additionally, fares
have already increased to US$729.00,
competing with Caribbean Airlines, the
only airline with the most scheduled
flights, that Guyanese accuse of price
gouging.
A wide cross-section of the Guyanese
community has called for the return of
the national airline — Guyana Airways,
now that Guyana is on the cusp of riches
with its oil reserves.
“The government of Guyana is
delighted to welcome the services of
JetBlue to Guyana,” according to Minister
of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson.
Patterson said the introduction of
this immensely popular low-cost carrier
would see lower ticket prices to Georgetown
and provide travelers with an
opportunity to fly on an airline of choice
to their favorite destination.
“This agreement with JetBlue is timely
and comes on the heels of continued
and sustainable growth in several sectors
of our economy, including, service,
tourism, mining, and oil and gas,” said
Patterson.
Brian T. Muller, director of the Guyana
Tourism Authority expressed excitement
at JetBlue’s new non-stop services
from JFK to Georgetown, Guyana, noting
that 2019 has been a year for Guyana,
“winning five international awards
Increased route options to Europe,
new community-led and owned tourism
product development.”
/jetblue.com
/www.jetblue.com
/www.jetblue.com
/Travelspan.com