MORE than 27, 000 passengers arrived in Guyana in May using the country’s main port of entry – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA.)According to CJIA’s Statistics Department, 27,353 passengers arrived in Guyana in May, compared to 15,173 passengers for the same period in 2015.

As such, an 80.3 per cent increase in passenger traffic was recorded at the international airport.

Additionally, the statistical data indicates that there was a 15 per cent increase in passenger arrivals from January to May, 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015.

The total arrival for the year as of May 31, 2016 was 102,110.

The airport credited the large influx of passengers to Guyana’s Golden Jubilee Independence Celebration. It is believed that many of the overseas-based Guyanese and tourists who visited Guyana in May would have participated in the historic flag raising, and independence costume and float parade.

“Commercial airlines – Caribbean Airlines, Dynamic Airways, COPA, Suriname Airways, Fly Jamaica and Insel Air – also recorded surges in passenger movement for the month,” CJIA stated in a release on Wednesday.

Ramesh Ghir, the airport’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) said too that the airport’s stakeholders had partnered with management to guarantee a smooth process through the terminal building.