Cheddi Jagan airport to be upgraded, modernised
Published:Wednesday | February 17, 2021 | 5:00 AM
The Guyanese government has budgeted GUY$2.5 billion (US$12 million) to further upgrade and modernise the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, said two additional passenger boarding bridges will be procured to accommodate transatlantic aircraft, increasing the total number of boarding bridges to six.
The airport administration offices will also be rehabilitated and a commercial complex added to the airport terminal.
The government has allocated GUY$150 million for the construction of a new administration block at Timehri, while GUY$187 million will be directed to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority for the upgrade of the Timehri Control Tower and the procurement of a Safety Data Collection and Processing System, in addition to hardware and software upgrades.
Another GUY$415 million allocation has also been budgeted for upgrades and rehabilitation of public infrastructure at hinterland airstrips.
In December 2020, Guyana brokered an agreement with China Harbour Engineering Company, CHEC, to undertake GUY$1.8 billion (US$8.6 million) in works at the Cheddi Jagan airport at no additional cost to taxpayers.
The additional work entails an extension of the airport’s boarding corridor in order to accommodate two more passenger boarding bridges, providing the airport with a total of six boarding bridges capable of servicing aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Dreamliner, the Airbus, and similar transatlantic aircraft.
The terminal building is being extended to provide accommodation for additional commercial space, such as food courts and duty-free shops. The extended building will feature a modern airport façade covering the full length of the departure terminal.
Earlier this year, Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill met with CHEC on the outstanding works, and the Guyana government says CHEC has agreed to rectify and complete all outstanding remedial works within the prescribed timelines.
CMC