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Private company

Universal Airlines

Logo: https://web.archive.org/web/20040809020108im_/http://www.universal-airlines.com/images/sideheader.gif, Non-free logo, via Wikipedia3

Airline of Guyana (2001–2005)

For the U.S.-based cargo airline which operated from 1966 to 1972, see Universal Airlines (United States). Universal Airlines Co. was an airline based in Georgetown, Guyana and headquartered in Richmond Hill, New York. The airline operated a scheduled passenger service to the United States and to nearby Trinidad and Tobago until going bankrupt.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

2001Founded1

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For the U.S.-based cargo airline which operated from 1966 to 1972, see Universal Airlines (United States).2

The story

The airline was established by Guyanese sisters Chandramatie Harpaul and Ramashree Singh 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. 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.

It subsequently leased an Airbus A320-200 from TACA Airlines, but was later 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.

From Wikipedia’s article on Universal Airlines (Guyana), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Products and brands

Destinations

Universal Airlines flew to the following destinations:

Brazil

Manaus (Eduardo Gomes International Airport)

Guyana

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Georgetown (Cheddi Jagan International Airport) Hub

United States

Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport)

New York City (John F. Kennedy International Airport)

Suriname

Paramaribo (Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport)

Trinidad and Tobago

Piarco (Piarco International Airport)

Fleet

Universal Airlines operated the following aircraft:

From Wikipedia’s article on Universal Airlines (Guyana), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 2005Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 2001Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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