PARAMARIBO – The Suriname-based Gum Air has announced a fuel surcharge of US$25 for the one-way trip to Guyana, as the company blaming the “ongoing increase in international aviation fuel prices” as the main reason.
The privately-owned airline is part of the Gummels group of companies, which also operates the Eduard Alexander Gummels International Airport (SMEG) and the crop-dusting service, Surinam Sky Farmers.
It said that the fuel surcharge goes into effect as of Friday and in a statement to customers and other stakeholders, said that “in order to continue providing you with safe, reliable and consistent service a temporary fuel surcharge will be introduced on all Gum Air and Trans Guyana Airways between Paramaribo and Georgetown”.
It said that for cargo shipments, a ten per cent fuel surcharge will be applied.
The global fuel crisis, caused by the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran, is also putting pressure on other countries, with the Trinidad-based state-owned Caribbean Airlines (CAL) announcing the immediate introduction of a fuel surcharge on all tickets saying it is to help offset a portion of rising costs due mainly to the war.
CAL said the fuel surcharge of between US$15 and US$25 per sector will apply, varying based on route, adding “it should be noted that there is no increase in the airline’s base fares.
Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic based airline, Sky High Dominicana, has made its inaugural flight from Santo Domingo to Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport here late Thursday.
Among the passengers were Ministers Melvin Bouva of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation and Raymond Landveld of Transport, Communications and Tourism, as well as the non-resident Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Republic of Suriname, Ernesto Torres Pereyra.
Bouva said that “this historic event not only signifies the opening of a new flight route but also symbolises the further strengthening of the historical ties between the Republic of Suriname and the Dominican Republic.
“Let this inaugural flight be the first of many safe journeys – journeys of business, of friendship, of cultural exchange. Let it inspire us to continue building bridges in the Caribbean and beyond,” he said, noting that the two countries have maintained warm and friendly relations for more than 46 years, rooted in shared values such as respect for sovereignty and regional cooperation. (CMC)
