Caribbean Airlines, with its Guyana flag carrier status, can now offer direct flights to Toronto that are fully loaded in Georgetown, prompting  optimism that passengers on that route will benefit from lower fares.

Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Zulfikar Mustapha told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) that prior to this week’s granting of the flag carrier status, Caribbean Airlines was required to load at least 40 to 50 percent of its Toronto-bound passengers from Trinidad and the remainder from Guyana.

“What happens in this case when they are given flag carrier status, they can take a full load out of Georgetown.,” he  said. Mohammed further explained that based on an agreement with Caribbean Airlines, Canada would only allow 60 percent of passengers from a third state.

“The benefit is that Caribbean airlines can take a full load out of Georgetown rather than bring about 50 percent passengers from Trinidad,” he said.

The GCAA boss said Caribbean Airlines would now be allowed to overnight aircraft at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali further explained that the last Caribbean Airlines flight out of Guyana has to return to Trinidad normally with few passengers so that it can come back to Guyana later before its onward to journey to Toronto.  Now that the Toronto-bound flights will originate from Guyana, Ali expects airfares to drop.

“Once those flights originate out of Guyana, it brings down the cost of airfares because now you don’t have to fly the plane on a very low load factor but you can actually go directly from Guyana and so it reduces Caribbean Airlines’ cost of operation,” Ali told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com)

Ali said with flights originating out of Guyana, there would be additional cargo space for farmers and suppliers who are targeting the Toronto market.

The Tourism Minister added that the flag carrier status would soon see the airline expanding its auxiliary services such as ground handling, security.

Guyana's Aviation Minister, Robeson Benn earlier this week announced the flag carrier status while addressing a simple ceremony to inagurate the Caribbean Airlines' flights to Toronto.