For the U.S.-based cargo airline which operated from 1966 to 1972, see Universal Airlines (United States).
| Airline: | Universal Airlines |
| Iata: | UW |
| Icao: | UVG |
| Callsign: | GUYANA JET |
| Founded: | 2001 |
| Commenced: | December 13, 2001 |
| Ceased: | August 29, 2005 |
| Fleet Size: | 1 |
| Destinations: | 6 |
| Headquarters: | Richmond Hill, Queens, New York |
| Founders: |
|
Universal Airlines was an airline based in Georgetown, Guyana and headquartered in Richmond Hill, New York.[1] [2] The airline operated a scheduled passenger service to the United States and to nearby Trinidad and Tobago until going bankrupt.[3] Operations were suspended in 2005.
The airline was established by Guyanese sisters Chandramatie Harpaul and Ramashree Singh[2] to replace the defunct Guyana Airways in 2001. Operations started on December 13, 2001, with a Boeing 767-300ER leased from LOT Polish Airlines non-stop from New York City to Georgetown. The company was financed by 11 investors from Guyana.[2]
Catering mainly to Guyanese in the US, the airline focused on the specific needs of this customer base, offering larger baggage allowances and a non-stop route.[4]
It subsequently leased an Airbus A320-200 from TACA Airlines, but was repossessed in 2005 and Universal Airlines was forced to suspend operations on August 29, 2005. BWIA West Indies Airways assisted stranded passengers during that time.
Universal Airlines flew to the following destinations:[5]
Universal Airlines operated the following aircraft:[6]
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 1 | 2005 | 2005 | Leased from TACA Airlines |
| Boeing 767-300ER | 2 | 2001 | 2003 | Leased from LOT Polish Airlines |
| 1 | 2003 | 2004 | Leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic | |