THE Opposition’s slashing machine continues to work, with the latest

cut in the national budget estimates being the $5.35B allocation meant to provide for modernisation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA); and it was described by Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, most aptly as being “unbelievable.
The expansion of the CJIA is clearly a visionary project, because air traffic in and out of Guyana is increasing steadily. In fact, many more people would have been coming to Guyana if we had a larger runway to accommodate larger aircraft.
Air travel is increasing globally, and Guyana has to position itself to meet new demands in the future. It would be foolish to wait until air traffic reaches “a boiling point” and then run “helter skelter” to expand the airport, by which time the cost of doing so would most likely have increased significantly. It does not make economic sense.
According to aircraft manufacturer Airbus, global air passenger traffic is set to increase by over 150% over the next 20 years, representing an annual growth of 4.7%. The size of the world’s passenger aircraft fleet will double in number from 14,016 in 2008 to 28,111. The fastest-growing regions will be India, China and Africa, driven by deregulation, economic growth, population growth, and inter-regional trade. Europe and North America, which combined made up approximately 59% of global revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) in 2008, will see their share of the global market decline to 46% by 2028, with Asia becoming the leading region with a third of the world’s traffic.
The latest Airbus Global Market Forecast says that, from an annual growth in RPKs of 6% in 2007, traffic slowed to a 2% growth in 2008, and this year will see an expected decline of 2%.
“Air transportation is a growth industry, and an essential ingredient in the world economy,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “Technology and innovation are key drivers for an eco-efficient aviation sector, and Airbus is at the forefront of both.”
Airbus cites a study by Oxford Economists that predicts that, in 20 years’ time, air transport will directly employ 8.5 million people worldwide and contribute $1 trillion annually to world GDP, with considerable additional tourism and other indirect benefits.
The Financial Express, in a December, 2002 article: Air Transportation and Economic Growth, pointed out: “You would be surprised to know the influence that the air transport sector has on the economy. Indeed, this industry affects almost all other sectors of the economy. To cite a few of those influenced by any good or bad movements in the air transport industry are surface transport, tourism, accommodation, catering, recreation, entertainment, financial services, information technology services, and even retail trade.
“A more in-depth study of the industry reveals that this is truly a sector for the “many”, not just an elite few. No other industry can boast of a more direct or indirect influence on so many aspects of the economy as air transport does. One only has to visit smaller countries around the region, such as Malaysia, Singapore or Thailand, to witness the tremendous growth that has been achieved through a well developed and efficient air transport sector. All boast national carriers of world-class standing, and have made substantial investments in airport infrastructure that has attracted increased air transport traffic to their countries.
But can air transport really help to accelerate economic development? “There is sufficient evidence to suggest a close relationship between airline activity and economic growth. It is said that growth in air transport drives economic progress, and in turn benefits from it. An ICAO study of Global GDP and air transport activity as measured by Revenue Passenger Kilometres over the 20-year period from 1975 to 1995 showed a positive correlation between this sector and global prosperity.”
The above clearly tells us that every country has to develop adequate aviation facilities to meet the demands of the future and that is exactly what our government is doing, but it would appear as though some lack the capacity to see and understand this because of their myopic condition or they simply want to block progress and development.
Importantly too, we have a thriving and developing tourism sector and even a nursery school child would know the crucial linkage between tourism and air transport except our political opposition, because if they did they would not have slashed the financial allocation for the CJIA expansion project.
However, while the budget instituted by the Opposition is unfortunate and a hindrance to progress at the same time it tells the Guyanese nation, especially those who voted for them, what kind of government they would have  had,had they won the elections. This should serve as what we call in Guyana “an eye opener” and at the next elections help to accordingly guide the electorate in a more instructive manner.