Guyana Airways

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Guyana Airways
IATA ICAO Call sign
GYGYAGUYAIR
Founded1939 as (British Guiana Airways)
Ceased operationsMay 2001 [1]
Hubs Cheddi Jagan International Airport
Fleet size2
Destinations16
Headquarters Georgetown, Guyana
Founders
  • Art J. Williams
  • Harry Wendt

Guyana Airways was the flag carrier of Guyana. 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]

Contents

History

A Grumman G-21 Goose of British Guiana Airways circa 1955, at Piarco International Airport British Guiana Govt Airways Grumman Goose c 1955tr.jpg
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.[ citation needed ]

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 Guyana Airways Douglas DC-3 Wheatley.jpg
A Douglas DC-3 of Guyana Airways at Grantley Adams International Airport in 1969
A Guyana Airways Tupolev Tu-154B taxiing at Henri Coanda International Airport in 1985 Guyana Airways Tupolev Tu-154B Groves.jpg
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:

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 Boeing 707-323B, Guyana Airways AN0195072.jpg
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 VH-NOF B757-23A Guyana Air-2000 MAN 18JUN00 (6689112993).jpg
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
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Airbus A300B4 119951996
Airbus A300-600R 119992000Leased from AWAS
Boeing 707-120B 119921993Leased from Omega Aerial Refueling Services
Boeing 707-320B 819811994Leased from several companies
Boeing 737-200 219801982Leased from Maersk Air
Boeing 757-200 119931999Leased from ILFC
120002001Leased from AWAS
de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou 219701981
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 519671999
Douglas C-47 Skytrain 419471979
Douglas DC-6 619741985
Douglas DC-8-52 119931994Leased from Advance Air Charters
Grumman G-21 Goose 419451973
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 219771999
Ilyushin Il-62 119841984Leased from Aeroflot
Ireland Neptune 119391955
Lockheed L-188CF Electra 319751977
Tupolev Tu-154B2 219851985Leased from TAROM
Tupolev Tu-154M 119861988

Accidents and incidents

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "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. "April 26, 1981 Guyana Airways timetable". www.timetableimages.com. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
  5. "July 1, 1983 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Georgetown, Guyana flight schedules". www.departedflights.com. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
  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.