A Caribbean Airlines flight, BW 526, destined for the JF Kennedy International Airport, via Port of Spain, departed the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Timehri, last evening with 101 passengers onboard, but not before they had some anxious moments.

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) had, on Tuesday, announced the closure of the CJIA and the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Ogle, to international flights, for two weeks effective midnight on Thursday, March 19, 2020, in an effort to slow the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

GCAA Director General, Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field had said during a high-level press briefing on Thursday when the announcement was made, “The Civil Aviation Authority, in order to slow the process of this virus and in consultation with the Ministry of Health has decided, with the approval of the Cabinet Taskforce, to close all airports to all international flights.”

He, however, noted that priority will be given to outgoing cargo flights, medivac flights, technical stops of aircraft that require fuel and specially authorised flights.

According to a source at the CJIA, a pre-flight itinerary listed 87 passengers were to have left on a flight that was scheduled to leave earlier. Anxious to depart the country before the midnight deadline, the passenger showed up at the airport but were told to go back home.
Some, nevertheless, remained at the airport. When confirmation that a plane was expected at 18:30hrs was received, the source said there was a mad rush to make contact with the passengers who had already departed for home.

And, as the Caribbean Airline (CAL) staff began to check-in passengers and their luggage, the process was halted after airline authorities refused to carry out the mandatory scanning of the passenger’s luggage until they received word from GCAA officials.

After a while, the process was resumed after the needed approval was received during which time the plane that was expected arrived but no passengers were aboard, this publication was informed.

The flight officially closed at about 19:00hrs.
CAL had, in an earlier release, informed that passengers would not be processed for travel on any CAL services with a final destination or an in-transit stop via Trinidad and Tobago. They included Non-Trinidad & Tobago nationals, non-permanent residents of Trinidad & Tobago, non-nationals transiting Trinidad and Tobago; holders of work permits must apply for an exemption to travel.

Only holders of valid Trinidad and Tobago passports will be allowed to land in Trinidad and Tobago, the release said, adding that non-nationals of Trinidad & Tobago who are currently booked on any Caribbean Airlines international and/or regional flights into/via Trinidad & Tobago, will have their tickets placed on hold in accordance with the airline’s Covid-19 Travel Policy.