Guyana Airways

Guyana Airways was the flag carrier of Guyana. It was an important link for the Guyanese community as it provided a way into and out of the country. During its operations, Guyana Airways operated services to destinations in the Caribbean, the United States and Canada. The airline was headquartered in Georgetown, Guyana. It was declared insolvent in 2001.[2]

Guyana Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
GY GYA GUYAIR
Founded1939 as (British Guiana Airways)
Ceased operationsMay 2001[1]
HubsCheddi Jagan International Airport
Fleet size2
Destinations16
HeadquartersGeorgetown, Guyana
Founders
  • Art J. Williams
  • Harry Wendt

History
A Grumman G-21 Goose of British Guiana Airways circa 1955, at Piarco International Airport

The company was founded by Art J. Williams and Harry Wendt in 1939 as British Guiana Airways using Ireland flying boats. Although it was a private venture, the colonial government provided subsidies. In the 1940s, the company began operating with the Grumman G-21 Goose. In July 1955, the colonial government bought BGA. At this time, BWIA West Indies Airways provided management assistance. In September 1963, the name was shortened to Guyana Airways. In May 1966, Guyana became an independent nation.[3] The airline leased all of its aircraft, which resulted in many different aircraft types being flown during the airline's existence, such as Russian-made Tupolev and American Boeing jets.

In June 1999, the airline went bankrupt and ceased operations. However, a new company named Guyana Air 2000 was formed using its assets, and maintained a short-lived operation until May 2001 when it filed for insolvency.[1]

Destinations
A Douglas DC-3 of Guyana Airways at Grantley Adams International Airport in 1969
A Guyana Airways Tupolev Tu-154B taxiing at Henri Coandă International Airport in 1985

International routes in 1981

According to the April 26, 1981 Guyana Airways international service timetable, the airline was operating Boeing 737-200 jet flights between Georgetown Timehri Airport (GEO, now Cheddi Jagan International Airport) and the following international destinations:[4]

International routes in 1983

According to the July 1, 1983 edition of the Official Airline Guide (OAG), Guyana Airways was serving the following international and domestic destinations from Georgetown (GEO):[5]

International destinations served with the Boeing 707:

  • Bridgetown, Barbados (BGI)
  • Miami (MIA)
  • New York City (JFK)
  • Paramaribo (PBM)
  • Port of Spain (POS)
  • Boa Vista (BVB)

Domestic destinations in Guyana served with de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter and Hawker Siddeley HS 748 turboprops:

Fleet
A Guyana Airways Boeing 707-320B landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1992
Guyana Air 2000's Boeing 757-200 taxiing at Manchester Airport in 2000

Guyana Airways operated the following aircraft types during its existence:[6][7]

Guyana Airways fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Airbus A300B4 1 1995 1996
Airbus A300-600R 1 1999 2000 Leased from AWAS
Boeing 707-120B 1 1992 1993 Leased from Omega Aerial Refueling Services
Boeing 707-320B 8 1981 1994 Leased from several companies
Boeing 737-200 2 1980 1982 Leased from Maersk Air
Boeing 757-200 1 1993 1999 Leased from ILFC
1 2000 2001 Leased from AWAS
de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou 2 1970 1981
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 5 1967 1999
Douglas C-47 Skytrain 4 1947 1979
Douglas DC-6 6 1974 1985
Douglas DC-8-52 1 1993 1994 Leased from Advance Air Charters
Grumman G-21 Goose 4 1945 1973
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 2 1977 1999
Ilyushin Il-62 1 1984 1984 Leased from Aeroflot
Ireland Neptune 1 1939 1955
Lockheed L-188CF Electra 3 1975 1977
Tupolev Tu-154B2 2 1985 1985 Leased from TAROM
Tupolev Tu-154M 1 1986 1988

Accidents and incidents
  • On November 30, 1981, a Douglas DC-6 (registered N3486F) caught fire after an engine failure when taking off at George F. L. Charles Airport. The aircraft crashed near the airport, bursting into flames. All 3 crew members were killed.[9]

See also

References
  1. "GUYANA AIR 2000 SUSPENDS FLIGHTS". Avionews.it. May 15, 2001. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  2. Marshall, Svetlana (20 January 2016). "National airline still on the cards". Guyana Chronicle. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  3. Noel, Melissa (27 May 2016). "Guyana Jubilee: Celebrating 50 Years of Independence". NBC News. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  4. http://www.timetableimages.com, April 26, 1981 Guyana Airways timetable
  5. http://www.departedflights.com, July 1, 1983 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Georgetown, Guyana flight schedules
  6. "Guyana Airways fleet". aerobernie.bplaced.net. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  7. "Guyana Airways Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  8. "Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Kurupung". Baaa-acro.com. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  9. "Crash of a Douglas DC-6A in Castries: 3 killed". Baaa-acro.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
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