FROM September 1, all passengers departing Guyana from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport will be required to pay a Passenger Facilitation Fee.

This decision follows a meeting on Monday between the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), LIAT and the Ogle Airport Inc. to discuss concerns relating to the implementation of the fee.

It was agreed that the fee “is a normal and legitimate airport charge to passengers… with IATA’s approval, effective 1st September 2017, this fee will be included in the LIAT ticket price and will appear on the LIAT ticket for any booking on LIAT for international flights departing Guyana from the Eugene F. Correia International Airport,” a statement from the airport said Thursday.

Additionally, LIAT has committed to working with the management of the Ogle Airport to ensure that the airport is paid on schedule and in accordance with an established and agreed payment plan.

“The Eugene F. Correia International Airport recognises LIAT as an important and valued customer of the airport and LIAT is very proud of its years of service to Guyana,” the statement added.

The move by the airport is as a result of LIAT’s inability to pay its airport service fees over the past few months.

In June, the Eugene F. Correia International Airport published a notice in the daily newspapers indicating that it will be reverting to the collection of the airport service fee directly at the airport for LIAT passengers.

Guyana Chronicle understands that the issue has been a longstanding one.
Monday’s meeting was hosted by GCAA’s Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Egbert Field while LIAT was represented by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Julie Reifer-Jones and other representatives. The Ogle Airport Inc. team was headed Anthony Mekdeci.