(Kaieteur News) – Domestic airlines have pushed back against growing concerns over the cost of hinterland air travel, insisting that high fares are driven by the realities and risks of operating in Guyana’s remote regions—not profiteering.

The Aviation Operators’ Association of Guyana Inc. (AOAG), in a statement issued yesterday, said domestic operators have taken note of President Irfaan Ali’s concerns about the cost of hinterland transportation and have reviewed their operating costs following several meetings with government.

The association said those discussions, which included the ministers responsible for Finance and Aviation, examined the industry’s cost structure in detail.