interCaribbean Airways on Thursday officially launched its scheduled service to the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara, marking another milestone in Guyana’s expanding aviation sector.
The inaugural flight, VQ-TGY from Barbados, touched down just after noon and was met with a welcome ceremony attended by government officials and aviation leaders. The flight was operated by Captain Peter Murray and flight attendant Alesha George, both Guyanese, underscoring the airline’s stated commitment to providing opportunities for local professionals.
interCaribbean currently serves 28 destinations across 17 countries and territories. With Ogle’s central location, passengers arriving on the new service are now just minutes away from downtown Georgetown.
Captain Jerry Gouveia Jr., Director of Roraima Airways and Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, said the launch is significant for Guyana’s economic development.
“Air connectivity to Guyana is crucial for economic growth. What we need in the private sector here are more outlets for our local businesses, our local people to export Guyanese products whether it is our agricultural products or services into the world and organisations like interCaribbean make that happen,” Gouveia Jr. said.
He also noted that interCaribbean has made a deliberate effort to maximise Guyanese participation in its operations by training local flight attendants, pilots and engineers.
“They are giving opportunities for Guyanese to represent the country and represent the industry internationally,” he added.
Founder and Chairman of interCaribbean, Lyndon Gardner, reflected on the airline’s journey in Guyana, noting that operations there began at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in 2021.
“Five years ago we made a promise to Guyana. Today, the spirit of Guyana leading the way, we have taken another step in keeping that promise,” Gardner said.
He recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when many airlines were reducing services, interCaribbean chose to expand its regional footprint.
“At interCaribbean we made a different choice. We looked south to Grenada, to Barbados and in December 2021, to Guyana. What we saw was not uncertainty but opportunity,” Gardner said.
The aircraft operating the route features the Golden Arrowhead on its tail and the words “Spirit of Guyana” on its nose. Gardner said the branding represents more than aesthetics.
“It is more than metal and paint, it is more than an aircraft. It is a symbol of what we believe the Caribbean is — one family — and Guyana is an essential part of that family,” he said.
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar welcomed the new service, pointing to the rapid growth of Guyana’s aviation industry. He said the sector is expected to play a transformative role in the country’s development.
According to Indar, direct employment in aviation stands at about 5,200, with an additional 12,000 people employed indirectly.
“This airport — small, yes — but it is the busiest, and it is because of the economic explosion that is happening in the country,” Indar said.
