THE reopening of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to commercial operations will see passenger arrival doubling over the next month, the airport has noted in a press statement.

Since the reopening on October 12, some 44 passengers have already arrived in the country on the first flight facilitated by Eastern Airlines.
Several commercial carriers, including COPA Airlines, American Airlines and Caribbean Airlines, have made clear their commitment and anticipation to recommence commercial flights to Guyana.

Eastern Airlines will be providing four flights weekly from Miami and New York, while COPA has disclosed that it will be moving to have flights on October 26, with three weekly from Panama.

Meanwhile, American Airlines has a timeline that will see its first flight to Guyana on November 4, and will have six flights weekly from Miami, while Caribbean Airlines will operate its first commercial service between Guyana and New York on October 19.

Speaking on the recent reopening of Guyana’s airports, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Caribbean Airlines, Garvin Medera lauded the government’s decision to do so, as worldwide, the aviation sector has experienced a 95% drop in passenger traffic, and $1.4 billion in revenue losses over the last six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Medera, “2020 has been an unprecedented year for aviation. Our customers in Guyana and North America can count on Caribbean Airlines to reconnect them with their family and friends. We attach tremendous importance to our valued Guyanese customers, and their loyalty to the airline.”

Medera said that Caribbean Airlines has undertaken to observe all safety protocols, which are aligned with the highest international standards for the protection of both its passengers and its employees.

Meanwhile, the CJIA has attained Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) from the Airports Council International, Latin America and the Caribbean Region (ACI-LAC).
The ACI airport health accreditation programme provides airports with an assessment of how aligned their health measures are when compared to the ICAO’s Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) recommendations, as well as with industry best practices.

The CJIA believes this will give both airlines and passengers alike the confidence that the safety measures implemented are in line with international standards.
In the meantime, passengers arriving into Guyana are required to obtain a negative PCR test taken within seven days prior to their arrival.
Passengers with tests within four to seven (4-7) days prior to arrival at the CJIA will be subjected to a second PCR test.

As it relates to the on-site PCR testing at the airport, the CJIA has noted that all the passengers who have since been tested on arrival are negative for COVID-19.