Georgetown: The expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in Guyana continues with a view towards safety and creating an international hub for aircraft movement. Minister of Public Works Robeson recently pointed out that thus far, basic technical work has been done regarding the designs, and with a consulting firm now on board, the work will continue.
He explained that test sections have been successfully done for the removal of pegasse and the relocation of the army engineering compound will soon begin. The Minister pointed also that the construction of facilities for Chinese teams and specialist workers will soon be completed.
From 2000 to 2012, passenger movement at the CJIA leaped from 384,000 to 544,000 [a 42 percent jump] over these years, hence an expanded airport is necessary.
The first criterion of expansion is safety targeting the runway being extended by a 1000 metres. “The runway is too short, it’s at the barest minimum for the type of traffic which comes in and we need to lengthen the runway for safety,” he said as he reminded of the Caribbean Airlines plane that overshot the runway two years ago.
The Minister also pointed out that an expanded airport would enable the attraction of larger aircraft which are more efficient in operations and whose use will redound in cheaper fares for travellers.
The other great opportunity, he said, as he pointed out the entry of several airlines including COPA Airlines, and Dynamic Airways into Guyana, “is that Guyana’s geographic location on the northern shoulder of South America provides an ideal location to develop a regional hub or international hub with respect to aircraft movement.”
This, he observed, would assist aircraft on long transatlantic flights to land in Guyana if there is a large enough airport where they can do facilitation, “bring tourists, take on fuel, do all the engineering and other things and develop the market so there’s an opportunity for the development of a regional hub market in South America.”
He also pointed to travel from Brazil where persons going to North America or Europe had to go to Sao Paulo or Rio. “The Brazilian Government is liberalising this market too. It’s an opportunity for markets to join into Manaus and Belem and those other sections into South America,” he explained.
Travellers wanting to get to the West Coast of South America to Ecuador or Peru usually have to get to Miami or New York. “It has improved since Copa Airlines has developed significantly going out of Panama, but our location as the possible hub is advantageous as being the development of international air cargo and passenger traffic so it has to be done,” Minister Benn stated.
He observed too that there is no way Guyana will remain uncompetitive in the areas “if we don’t do things the way it ought to be done in the market. Suriname is expected to expand its airport, the Jamaicans are looking at theirs, and Grenada is expanding its airport. There are many other countries in the Caribbean who are expanding their airport to make it more efficient, to travel more efficient and more advantageous to the travelling public.”
Minister Benn pointed out that business and opportunities will develop as a result of the development of the airport, “ Not only in the extension of the runway, but also in the development of a new terminal building which is inadequate for the type of traffic which goes straight at the moment.”
While he commended the improvement and expansion of the Ogle Airport he noted that, “it is a small place with respect to what happens at CJIA. The expansion has to come from the extensions at CJIA and the developments in the terminal building where there is room to do those things. The room doesn’t exist at Ogle and couldn’t exist at Ogle,” the Minister declared.
The Opposition cut the $6.5B allocated in Budget 2014 for the CJIA project that was signed by the Governments of Guyana and China on October 31, 2012, and which is to be funded to the value of US$130 million from the Chinese Exim Bank.
Upon completion, the CJIA would be able to meet service projected traffic and become a hub for regional and continental traffic. The upgrade and expansion comprises a new terminal building that will have eight passenger boarding bridges, two elevators, and CCTV and departures control systems.
You must be logged in to post a comment.