GUYANA’S aviation industry is set for a further boost, as the country signed new air services agreements with six nations during the 17th International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN 2025) in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from November 10 – 14, 2025.
According to a press release, Guyana was represented by officials of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) led by Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field, A.A., Director General; and Dinello Mahabir, Manager, Air Transport Management.
During the event, Guyana negotiated and initialed Air Services Agreements (ASAs) with Panama, St. Maarten, Uganda, Ecuador, Liberia, and Kenya.
These ASAs create the legal framework that opens market access for airlines to operate and enhance competitive air transport services, trade, and economic growth between Guyana and these States.
It is anticipated that these agreements will stimulate interest from airlines in these states to consider destination Guyana as part of their route network. With these new agreements, Guyana now has bilateral and multilateral ASAs with over 60 states.
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, said: “Air Services Agreements signed by Guyana are necessary to advance our aviation sector. We are building a transformative aviation sector and having ASAs with other states is critical to accomplishing the vision of connecting Guyana with the rest of the world and building the Cheddi Jagan International Airport into an international air transport hub”.
On the sidelines of the ICAN event, the Director General also signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Technical Cooperation with the Civil Aviation Authorities of Cabo Verde and the Dominican Republic.
These MOUs aim to improve the development, modernisation, and operational efficiency of aviation systems between Guyana and these countries.
Although the MOUs are non-binding, they signify the mutual commitment of both authorities to seek innovative solutions that enhance aviation safety, strengthen regulatory frameworks, enhance knowledge sharing and the adoption of best practices in safety management, regulatory oversight, and training, including exploring mutual interests in areas such as human resources management and the economic regulation of air transport.
Guyana also commenced negotiations with France to update the 1974 Air Services Agreement between these countries.
An updated agreement will allow airlines of both states to operate to each other’s territory under a more liberal arrangement. Negotiations were also initiated to establish an air services agreement with Austria.