The Guyanese Government has approved Eastern Airlines' application to begin scheduled flights between New York JFK and Georgetown Cheddi Jagan, Guyana, having initially rejected an earlier submission in May.

Speaking at a press briefing on November 14, Joseph Harmon, Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, stated that the carrier could soon begin flights between the US and Guyana having received approval from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). When asked why the government had now decided to approve Eastern Airlines' planned operations, the Director-General indicated that there had been lobbying by entities, outside of Guyana, on the airline’s behalf.

However, before commencing operations between the two cities, the airline will be required to post a GYD52.2 million Guyanese dollar (USD250,000) bond with the Government of Guyana and a separate bond of GYD41.7 million (US200,000) with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Once these bonds are paid, the airline can commence operations on or before December 8, 2019. The bonds will safeguard Guyanese passengers if the airline decides to discontinue its flights.

“There was some history with respect to this particular airline, and therefore, when the application came, it took some amount of due diligence to come to the point of deciding," said Harmon at the press briefing. "But, we were always concerned about its history and the fact that we do not want to have Guyanese people stranded again, having bought tickets and being stranded here or in New York. We wanted to ensure that these things are put in place. So, the question of the bond is one sure way of satisfying that requirement that if in fact, that were to happen, we will be in a position to charter aircraft to get people to their destination.”

Formerly Dynamic Airways (Greensboro Piedmont Triad International), the North Carolina-based charter specialist rebranded as Eastern Airlines in October 2018, five months after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. When Eastern Airlines originally applied to the Guyanese authorities, it stated that it wanted to operate a 3x weekly service between JFK and Georgetown. According to the ch-aviation PRO airlines module, Eastern has a fleet of one B767-200 (active), three B767-200(ER)s (one active), five B767-300(ER)s (all inactive) and one B777-200(ER) (inactive).