| Airline: | Guyana Airways |
| Iata: | GY |
| Icao: | GYA |
| Callsign: | GUYAIR |
| Ceased: | May 2001[1] |
| Hubs: | Cheddi Jagan International Airport |
| Fleet Size: | 2 |
| Destinations: | 16 |
| Headquarters: | Georgetown, Guyana |
| Founders: |
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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]
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]
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]
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:
Guyana Airways operated the following aircraft types during its existence:[6] [7]
| 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 | |