Eastern Airlines committed to lodging two large bonds - Patterson

Eastern Airlines was granted approval to operate here after it committed to lodging two huge bonds with the government and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson told Stabroek News yesterday that the airline in their application committed US$250,000 and another large bond to the GRA.

He stated that given the amount of the bonds, government felt that they were committed to serving the Guyanese market and with that in mind approval was granted.

Minister of State Dawn Hastings Williams during the launch of Air Services Limited’s new routes to the Upper Mazaruni disclosed that Eastern Airlines, which has been completely rebranded is scheduled to begin operations here.

Six months ago, an earlier application had been rejected by Cabinet. The airline will now operate scheduled non-stop flights between the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York.

Hastings later told Stabroek News that the airline is expected to begin operations on December 8th.

“To my knowledge, we [Cabinet] have received their application and [granted] the approval to have their services offered here,” Hastings-Williams said.

Director-General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority Egbert Field said that the company has followed “due diligence and approval has been given to them to operate between Georgetown and New York.”

Field noted that the company is no longer connected to Dynamic Airways and has followed international regulations and transitioned and restructured itself under new management.