In this current era of liberalization and globalization and a growing global tourism industry, air transport has become increasingly in demand as movement of goods and people across the globe has soared. Therefore, it is imperative that countries have adequate and efficient airports of international standards as well as adequate air services.
Our country, which is now assuming a greater presence on the world stage and has a budding tourism industry, unfortunately,had boasted a lone international airport formerly known as the Timehri International Airport and now renamed after the great Guyanese leader and former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan (CJIA). It must be recalled that during the period when it was the Timehri International Airport, it could have had hardly been recognized as an international airport as it was in an atrocious condition with dysfunctional sanitation and water systems, poor lighting on the runway, inadequate accommodation, lack of a conveyor belt, poor quality of service etc.
Today, CJIA has been dramatically transformed as every aspect of it has undergone significant improvement to the point where it can truly be recognized as an airport which conforms to international standards.
But an equally welcome development has been the process of developing the Ogle International Airport Inc. into a municipal airport through government/private sector initiative. This project is nearing fruition as work is ongoing to improve the runway to accommodate larger aircraft.
The lengthening and widening of the runway at Ogle International Airport Inc. is scheduled for completion by August, moving the terminal closer to meeting the specifications for recognition as a regional airport. The runway is being expanded from 4,000 feet to 4,200 feet as requested by the regional airline LIAT so that it can accommodate larger aircraft from both LIAT and other airlines.
The $381M project is being executed by BK International and was this week said to be 90% complete.
Other upgrades under way for accommodation of larger aircraft include an expansion of the terminal facilities, widening of taxiways, and a new apron.
Michael Correia Jnr, Chairman of Ogle Airport Inc. recently disclosed that this phase of the development of the airport will open the door for LIAT and other airlines with larger aircraft.
He had disclosed that the airport’s management was working closely with a team from LIAT to ensure all flight safety and security requirements are in place and complied with.
Correia, who is also president of the Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana (AOAG), had stressed that management of the Ogle facility was committed to promoting safety, better and more efficient regulated air services, and an aviation infrastructure that is able to support Guyana and CARICOM’s development drive.
Management of the airport, he had assured, would also be working closely with all security agencies to ensure that this service is expanded to comply with international standards and would not only be highly effective, but customer friendly as well.
Ogle Airport Inc. is at the moment serving Brazilian traffic to Lethem and to Suriname.
When the project is completed, it will certainly boost our capacity to accommodate in-coming and out-going flights and a significant amount of pressure would be taken off  CJIA.
Also, when the airport becomes officially recognized as a regional airport, it should serve as a stimulant for the growth of businesses within that community, particularly with respect to service-oriented ones.