There is currently no direct flight between Guyana and French Guiana. However, following the air services agreement signed on September 30, 2026, which replaces the 1976 agreement, Trans Guyana Airways is planning at least two flights per week between Georgetown and Cayenne, though no dates have been announced.
In Georgetown, Guyana, the journey to Cayenne begins with a three- to four-hour drive to Moleson Creek. Next comes a ferry that departs only once a day, a crossing into Suriname, and then a second border crossing. That’s still what it takes in 2026 to reach French Guiana from English-speaking Guyana. The direct flight between Guyana and French Guiana being planned by Trans Guyana Airways would cut this journey from nearly 24 hours to about 1 hour and 15 minutes, according to the airline.
Direct Flight Between Guyana and French Guiana: What the September 30, 2026 Agreement Unlocks
On September 30, 2026, in Georgetown, Guyana’s Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, and the French Ambassador, Olivier Plançon, signed a new air services agreement. The agreement replaces the one from 1976. For fifty years, air service between Guyana and France had therefore rested on the same framework.
The new agreement covers traffic rights, safety, fares, and code-sharing between airlines. Guyana has designated Trans Guyana Airways, which is preparing two weekly flights between Georgetown and Cayenne, subject to authorization. As of October 13, 2026, neither the aircraft, nor the fares, nor the date of the first takeoff is known.
The issue goes beyond a single airplane. As of November 2025, no direct air link connected France and Guyana, and plans for a Cayenne-Paramaribo-Georgetown route had been scrapped. A direct flight between Guyana and French Guiana would therefore be a concrete answer to this gap, if the project comes to fruition.
Georgetown to Cayenne: Why the Trip Takes Almost a Day
There are no bridges across the Corentyne, the river that separates Guyana from Suriname. The MV Canawaima ferry connects Moleson Creek to South Drain in about an hour and a half. You must drive to Paramaribo, then to Albina, cross the Maroni River toward Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, and continue for about three hours to Cayenne. Each leg of the journey depends on the previous one, and missing the ferry at Moleson Creek means losing a day.
This route is vulnerable. In August 2026, the MV Canawaima was grounded for nearly a week following a decision by Suriname’s maritime authority, and passengers were stranded on both sides of the river. The ferry resumed service on August 29, 2026, but it is expected to be retired in 2027. On July 1, 2026, Suriname announced that it would single-handedly finance the 3.1-kilometer-long future bridge, a decision that Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said came as a surprise to him.
What a Direct Flight Between Guyana and French Guiana Would Change for French Guiana
In the first half of 2026, French Guiana welcomed 45,465 visitors from outside the territory, 53% more than a year earlier, with estimated spending of 81.4 million euros. Nearly 70% came from mainland France. A connection to Georgetown would add an English-speaking neighbor to this map, and Trans Guyana Airways is already discussing connections in Cayenne with Air France.
One obstacle remains, however. In November 2025, Guyanese citizens who wanted to travel to France had to apply for a visa at the French Embassy in Suriname, at a cost of 90 euros. A 1-hour-and-15-minute flight would shorten the distance, but not this process. French Guiana is also home to residents born in Guyana, 2,403 according to the 1999 census, 1,046 of them in Cayenne. The figure is dated, but these families would be the first to see the distance change.
What Guyana Could Gain
Guyana received 453,489 visitors in 2025 and 360,623 in the first nine months of 2026. Its president announced a 33.3% increase in the first half of 2026. A direct flight between Guyana and French Guiana would connect Georgetown to a French territory of the European Union and offer a new route for travelers and businesses. For both Cayenne and Georgetown, the stakes go beyond tourism. Two neighboring capitals, one English-speaking and the other French-speaking, would be an hour’s flight apart instead of a day’s drive. However, no estimate of the economic impact has been announced, in Georgetown or in Cayenne.
An announcement, but not a schedule yet
On October 3, 2026, Trans Guyana Airways confirmed that it had begun the administrative process. Georgetown and Cayenne, the two capitals of the Guiana Shield, are now awaiting a date. It remains to be seen whether the first passengers will be families, businesspeople, or tourists. The next announcement will reveal whether the direct Guyana-French Guiana flight will take off before the Corentyne ferry is phased out, or whether travelers will still have to rely, for the time being, on that single daily departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Trans Guyana Airways is preparing these flights, but as of October 13, 2026, no launch date or schedule has been announced.
By road, up to 24 hours, including a ferry, taxis, and crossing the Maroni River. By plane, Trans Guyana Airways estimates the flight time at about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
It replaces the 1976 agreement between Guyana and France. It governs traffic rights, safety, fares, and code-sharing, and Guyana has designated Trans Guyana Airways under this agreement.
