CHIEF Executive Officer (CEO) of Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC), Mr. Ramish Ghir has said, while income for 2008 surpassed that of 2007, there was a nine per cent decline in passenger travel and a four per cent dip in international landing.

Speaking to the media recently, he attributed the increase in revenue mainly to areas such as advertising and retail concessions and prudent management of debtors.

Ghir reported that, in 2008, $287M were transferred to the Consolidated Fund, nine per cent more that in 2007.

“Since its formation in 2001, the CJIAC has continuously surpassed its previous year income, despite the challenges,” he pointed out.

Ghir also said the terminal witnessed development in emergency exercises, lighting, special events, community work, airside waterfall, aviation security training, electronic platform scales, accommodation and services.

The entity was also audited by Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

These audits, Ghir said, saw the CJIAC aerodrome certification being renewed in compliance with ICAO regulations.

He said, last November, the airport contingency plans were successfully tested by way of a bomb exercise and they met the ICAO requirements.

Ghir said a few more lamps were added to the public car park and the maintenance compound to improve lighting.

In addition, more accommodation was provided for the security ranks assigned to the airport while existing facilities were refurbished.

However, he acknowledged that Travel Span, EOS, Primaris, Zoom and North American Airlines discontinued operations and Delta and Skyservice airlines started scheduled flights into CJIA.

Ghir said, too, that severe thunderstorms and intense lightning last July made several CJIA and GCAA installations and equipment unserviceable or damaged.

He said squatting on the airport land continues to be a major concern but the matter is actively engaging the CJIA attention.

Ghir said another setback was the loss of in excess of $15M to theft and burglary affecting various departments but, although the situation improved in recent months, there is still the underlying threat which is compounded by an inadequate number of security ranks available.

However, he gave the undertaking that efforts will continue to achieve the mandate of administering, operating, maintaining and developing the CJIAC in 2009.

“We will continue on the path of achieving self-sufficiency by managing our resources prudently and seeking new resources of revenue and maintaining adequate control over our assets,” Ghir said.