With record revenue collection…
CHEDDI Jagan International Airport (CJIA), which collected $635M in revenue last year, the highest collection since its establishment, plans to begin construction of a model shop this year.

But, to accommodate the innovation, businesses operating on the fringes of the terminal would have to be relocated, said the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Ramesh Ghir.

He said CJIA will be focusing on getting additional works done on the sanitary facilities, new seating in the Departure Lounge, improved electricity supply and more collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, in relation to training in the areas of customer care for all airlines staff.

Ghir was one of several Heads of Department reporting on 2010 and making projections for 2011 at the year end news conference hosted by Transport and Hydraulics Minister, Mr. Robeson Benn last December 31.

The CJIA CEO also reported that, of the revenue garnered, $235M were transferred to the Consolidated Fund.

Meanwhile, expenditure by CJIA, which has 900 persons in its employ, amounted to $340M as against $369M in 2009.
Ghir said passenger arrivals were 226,867, five per cent more than 2009 and there was an increase of nine per cent in cargo movement, through import and export.
Aircraft landing fees also rose by five per cent and, during last year, CJIA introduced its own security, employing 21 persons for the purpose and instituted new checking arrangements aimed at improving the efficiency and integrity of the operations, he said.
Ghir said capital works, including rehabilitation of the taxi way and the international apron were executed at a cost of $300M, covering rehabilitation of the washroom facilities at the drop-off area, construction of a fully computerised car park booth, new lighting fixtures to protect from lightning, 20 new check-in systems, passenger self-checking kiosks as well as two new flight information display systems.
He said, as a result of new concessions, a number of snackettes and shops for outgoing passengers were opened.

MODERNISATION PROJECT

Meanwhile, Head of Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Mr. Zulfikar Mohamed said his agency expended $910M on a modernisation project, $80M of which was from revenue collected.
He said his agency, last year, continued its efforts to achieve the strategic objectives in keeping with the business plan developed by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority in 2002.
Mohamed said legislation is, currently, being reviewed as part of the efforts to comply with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and secure the necessary (category) status under the United States Federal Aviation Administration International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme, to enable Guyanese air carriers to fly into the United States (U.S.).

He disclosed that, for 2010, Government allocated $140M for the acquisition of equipment to modernise the communication and navigation equipment for use at both the Timehri and Ogle airports.
Mohamed said, under the original project, work was completed on the construction of a mast for the localiser antenna, all part of the Instrument Landing System (ILS). The equipment has already been shipped by the contractor, Intelcan of Canada and, some having been received, installation is scheduled for the middle of this month.
He said shortage of technical staff continues to present a challenge to GCAA but it continued to regulate the industry to assure safety and security compliance.
Mohamed said several operators have expressed interest to operate in Guyana’s air space and provide scheduled and unscheduled services. Of them, Fly GT Airlines and Wings Aviation have applied to establish here and service the Caribbean and North American routes.