– runway to be lengthened by further 3,500 feet
– in addition to new terminal building with eight air bridges
GOVERNMENT plans to expand the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri as part of the overall development of the tourism sector and to encourage more flights and stopovers in Guyana.

Speaking at a press conference at the Office of the President on Friday, President Bharrat Jagdeo said the upgrade works on the airport will see the runway being lengthened by a further 3,500 feet in addition to a new terminal building with eight air bridges.

“We have to get more [flights] into North America and Europe. We are exploring equity participation,” he said. “We were hoping that REDjet would fulfil its promise of more flights but they have some issues too,” he said.

Referring to the need to have more airlift, the President said it is very vital to the future development of the country.

The President said that while the Government is looking at participating in an airline outfit, it does not want to be too involved, since government did not want to be in the business of running an airline single handedly.

“We didn’t want to go on a full fledged airline because of the difficulties of management. We are trying to keep government away from those things,” the President said.

He noted that the lack of a proper flag carrier is one of Guyana’s vulnerabilities, “especially if we are going to strengthen tourism and get more people to come back here.

“The project that we are negotiating now will see a longer runway by another 3,500 feet, it will see a new airport building that will have eight air bridges. It will be connected to the city by a four-lane road – we have already awarded [contracts] for part of that road,” Mr. Jagdeo said.

“So the infrastructure to make Guyana a hub for Suriname, Brazil, Trinidad and Barbados, to do this route, the potential remains very high. And I suspect we may be able to get other planes from Africa and other places to transit in Guyana. But we definitely have to get more airlift into North America because that’s a big problem…and to Europe too,” said Jagdeo.

On the stranded Caribbean Airlines passengers who went through an ordeal over the past week following grounded flights as a result of Hurricane Irene, the President expressed concern about the treatment of the passengers by Caribbean Airlines.

“A lot of people have their jobs…they could lose their jobs if they don’t get back on time. It is very expensive, if someone comes out on a budget they don’t have money to spend on these things. Caribbean Airlines should meet full obligation to the passengers,” the President said.