The government is advancing plans to introduce an automated passenger identification system at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to reduce processing times for Guyanese travellers.
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, on Monday, said that the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to position Guyana as a regional aviation hub.
The national e-ID card infrastructure will support the new system and will use biometric technology to identify Guyanese upon arrival.
Guyanese travellers will be able to move seamlessly through the airport, with facial recognition triggering automated gates.
“We want when you come off the plane, you walk straight through. The system must recognise that you are a citizen. Your face will appear on a screen, the system will signal the gate to open, and you will walk through. You don’t have to see anybody as a Guyanese,” Minister Indar explained.
Along with the digital upgrade, the CJIA’s physical infrastructure is also being expanded and modernised to meet international standards, in keeping with the government’s aviation ambitions.
“Making Guyana a regional hub, you have to have the infrastructure. That is why you will see we [government] are investing heavily in the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to ensure it is modern-looking and the people of Guyana can boast that we have an airport that is truly international in shape and form.”
The minister added that plans are in place to construct a second terminal. The designs have been completed, and contractors are mobilised.
He noted that interest from international carriers continues to grow, following a recent engagement in Brazil.
Guyana currently hosts approximately 16 airlines, a sharp increase from just four in 2020. They include Copa Airlines, American Airlines, Surinam Airways and Caribbean Airlines.
“In 2020, we had four airlines. Now we have 16. That means we added 12 new airlines, which is no easy feat, and more are coming,” he said.
Efforts are also underway to re-establish regional routes, particularly those affected by the collapse of LIAT.
Beyond the development of the CJIA, the government is constructing two municipal airports in Berbice and Lethem to support regional development.
The Berbice facility is expected to serve major projects in the region, including oil and gas operations, new pipelines, a power plant, and infrastructure developments such as the stadium at Palmyra.
“We need an airport that can accommodate jets for now so that they can land on a 6,500-foot runway and they can leave directly from there so you don’t have to come and then drive,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, the Lethem airport is being developed with a strategic focus on handling passenger and cargo traffic from northern Brazil. [DPI]
