An airfare war is brewing thanks to Caribbean Airlines, which is set to ink a deal with the Jagdeo government to fly its next generation aircraft direct from Georgetown’s Cheddi Jagan Timehri International to John F. Kennedy Airport.
American super carrier Delta Airlines, which has monopolized the route for the last three years angering travelers with high fares and over booked flights, will hopefully feel the pinch when the Caribbean carrier starts its thrice-weekly direct route, according to the government Information Agency (GINA).
Although a start date has not been announced, the flight will be named the Spirit of the Caribbean. The proposal was hashed out between President Bharrat Jagdeo, the Trinidad and Tobago based carrier’s Chairman George Nicholas III and Vice Chairman Mohan Jaikaran at the state house in Georgetown recently.
Efforts to reach the carrier in New York for a comment were unsuccessful.
The government of Guyana has consistently maintained that Guyanese were being squeezed by Caribbean Airlines with high fares for travel within the Caribbean and met with the carrier last year after complaints by citizens that it costs more to fly from Guyana to Trinidad, than it does from Trinidad to New York.
Over a year ago, Jagdeo expressed his frustration with the limited airline service to Guyana, even suggesting that the government may once again reintroduce a government-run airline to ease the situation.