(Kaieteur News) – Air Services Limited (ASL), one of Guyana’s longest-serving aviation companies, on Tuesday night announced the closure of its rotor wing (helicopter) division, blaming what it describes as frustrated efforts to secure the regulatory approvals needed to keep the operation running.

In a statement released Tuesday night, the company said it spent seven years pursuing a rotorcraft Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the agency that licenses and oversees aircraft operators in the country. ASL said it approached the process in good faith and expected a collaborative relationship with regulators, but instead encountered what it called repeated bureaucratic obstacles that ultimately made continuing the helicopter business untenable.

The company framed the closure as a loss not just for itself but for the hinterland communities that depend on air transport. ASL has for decades served Guyana’s interior — regions with limited or no road access — offering essential services.