A new Air Services Agreement between Guyana and France is expected to pave the way for direct flights to French Guiana.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday, by Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar and French Ambassador to Guyana and CARICOM Olivier Plançon, marking the renewal of an aviation framework between the two countries after 50 years.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) said that for Guyanese travellers, one of the  immediate opportunities created by the agreement is a potential direct connection to Cayenne, French Guiana.

Indar said Trans-Guyana Airways, a Guyanese-owned and operated airline, had already applied to operate the Cayenne route, with Cabinet approval granted.

“Cabinet has approved that, but it could not have been operationalised if this agreement is not in place, which is like an open skies agreement. Now, we have it in place,” he said.

The proposed connection could significantly reduce the time and complexity currently involved in travelling from Guyana to Cayenne.

Indar noted that the journey can currently take close to a full day or longer, requiring travellers to transit through Suriname and use multiple modes of transportation before reaching French Guiana, DPI reported.

The minister also pointed to the presence of major French aviation and technology companies at the recent global aviation safety conference in Guyana, including Airbus and Air France, as an indication of the broader opportunities emerging from strengthened aviation cooperation.

DPI said that Trans Guyana Airways has since begun preparations for at least two weekly nonstop flights between Georgetown and Cayenne, subject to the remaining administrative and regulatory processes.