Universal Airlines wants the Caribbean By Richardson Dhalai T'dad Guardian With international airlines fighting for survival comes word that a new airline seeks to carve its niche in the Caribbean market. Universal Airlines, owed by Guyanese businesswomen Rameshree Singh and Chandramatie Harpaul, was registered with the American Federal Aviation Authority on September 10, 2001 with a single, wide-bodied, Boeing 767-300 aircraft leased from European carrier Lot-Polish Airlines. They had four additional aircraft identification licences on file to facilitate further expansion. Now, a year later, the airline has assumed the mantle of the official Guyanese flag carrier in South America, providing international schedule, passenger, cargo and mail services between Guyana, and the US via T&T. Vishnu Mahadeo, vice-president, special marketing and revenue management, believes the Caribbean market can amply support another airline in spite of the financial difficulties currently being experienced by LIAT, Air Jamaica, and BWIA. Universal Airlines, he said, is a "product of 9/11," coming in when the entire industry was undergoing a "overhaul." "We are definitely sensitive to the needs of the industry and our passengers, and we have adjusted the size of the company accordingly," he said. "However, this does not mean we have neglected our passengers safety and comfort for the bottom line," he said, adding, "We have the largest leg-room of any aircraft in the Caribbean, and our in-flight cuisine are all authentic Caribbean dishes." As for maintenance of the aircraft, he said, the wet-lease arrangement with Lot-Polish ensures that a fully-serviced aircraft is always available. "Our in-flight crew, apart from the pilots who are Polish, are all Caribbean nationals," he said. Universal has also begun flying to five other Caribbean countries: T&T, Cuba, St Kitts, Aruba, and Suriname. And in keeping with its Trinidadian thrust, Universal Airlines recently opened an office at Centre Point Mall, Chaguanas. "We believe the Caribbean pie is big enough for everyone to share," he said The airline has begun negotiations with Virgin Atlantic for a possible alliance between both companies The airline has also developed working relationships with both Caribbean Star airlines and Suriname Airways Universal Airlines recently flew a charter flight to Cuba from Guyana, ending at JFK airport, with the approval of the US State Department. The airline also brought an expatriate Caribbean contingent from New York to see the Indian cricket team tour of the West Indies. "We have issued a circular to them (workers) to calm their fears that we are transferring equity. We have not talked about transferring equity with anybody. "Petrotrin does need some help in doing a lot of things that Petrotrin needs to do," he added, saying they have not talked seriously about in what form that help would come. Some US$300 million is needed to upgrade the refinery. In this vein, Bertrand said: "A joint venture partner is an option for the refinery, for more that one reason. The money is one, technology is another, supply of crude, you know the refinery needs 160,000 barrels per day and we only produce 55 -60,000 of that in the refinery, so of course there are all kinds of options and all kinds of alliances that do not necessarily call for equity transfer," Bertrand explained. He said with hard work, Petrotrin can survive on its own. "For the moment, I am there to put in that hard work, but Petrotrin, there is some help it needs, so we are looking at all the options." With respect to the relocation of Trinmar for future LNG expansion, Bertrand said they are also looking at all the options to see whether the two companies can co exist or whether one will have to move. He said if they have to move, the location may not necessarily be the La Brea Industrial Estate which is being redeveloped. The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site: Roj (Roger James) *************************************************** escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com CBC Website http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ The Trinbago Site of the Week: (Island Events) http://www.islandevents.com (Island Events) courtesy of Roj Trinbago Website & TnT Web Directory Roj's Trinbago Website: http://www.tntisland.com TnT Web Directory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************