Georgetown: Passengers departing Guyana were among the first to test the new air bridges at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Friday.
This comes as the CJIA expansion project draws nearer to completion. The airport has begun testing its Boarding Corridor and one of the boarding bridges in preparation for the phasing out of gantries.
General Manager, Caribbean Airlines, Carl Stewart congratulated CJIA and the administration for a job well done. “Today is a good day, a day we looked forward to with hope and optimism. I also want to congratulate the government and people of Guyana for believing in this dream and working collectively to give us a wonderful new airport and jetways. I feel excited, I’m happy to be here and I encourage anyone who’s travelling to choose the CJIA.”
Back in January this year President David Granger said the US$150 million initiative could be a gateway to a modern Guyana.
“This is the entry point for the modern state. It is very important to our development. Infrastructure would attract tourists and now that we are embarking on a new industry, people would want to come in their numbers and they should be coming to Guyana at a modern airport.
In time to come, we should be able to put a time on visitors, meaning that no visitor should be able to spend more than 10 minutes in the airport. We need an efficient service so that as soon as someone lands, they can be on their way, of course after satisfying all security requirements. We need to plan for the future,” President Granger had said during a tour of the facility back in January.
While the project was slated to be completed in December 2017, there were numerous challenges which affected this deadline. However, with the deadline now extended at no further cost to the government.
Minister Patterson had said in January that the new arrivals terminal building, generator building, pipe installation, pump station and water tank, boarding corridor and passenger boarding bridges will be completed by the first quarter of the year. Works on the check-in and departure lounges and the first phase of the departure terminal, Screening and VIP areas and the south-west runway will be completed by the end of June. All other works will be completed by December 2018.
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