— as part of upgrade
GOVERNMENT’S continued efforts to improve and upgrade the service provided to passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport will soon see several new amenities added to the facility.
In an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Ghir stated that some of these new amenities, which include new checking and flight information display systems, will be in place by mid-year.
Last year government signed a contract with SITA, an information technology company that provides IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry, to provide a package which would see the entire checking system at the airport being revamped, with the supply of self-checking kiosks, whereby passengers will be able to check themselves in before proceeding to immigration and security.
Ghir noted that the project has been delayed primarily due to the inability to access the permanent circuit from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) company; but this has since been acquired and installed at the airport; and is currently being tested by the company and the airlines.
He said, “The project involves all of the airlines working closely with the service provider to ensure that they do their test and to ensure that the system is working to their satisfaction; and based on the revised schedule, we anticipate that the new checking system will be in place by mid-May.”
Ghir noted that most of the equipment have been tested already and are functional.
“This is going to be a very welcome service at the airport, as we anticipate it would help to significantly reduce the processing time for passengers. Additionally, the airlines are excited about it, as they will have the option of using several counters to checkin their passengers.”
The new set of flight information and backdrop screens for the airlines will provide additional information for passengers when they enter the checking hall.
As for the upgrading of the runway, Ghir noted the recent upgrade of the taxi-way and the international apron has been completed, with a $300M allocation from Government, and complements the work done on the main runway which was previously re-surfaced in its entirety.
Meanwhile, the design work for the extension to the runway, which was provided for in this year’s budget, at a cost of $178M, has started, and Ghir added that in addition to this there is the possibility of a new terminal building.
He added that for this project to get off the ground, the issue of squatters in the vicinity of the airport has to be addressed, and at present the CJIA is considering a number of proposals.
The CEO added that some other works being undertaken are the upgrading of the washrooms and the procurement of new seating arrangements for the departure lounge.