Guyana accelerates aviation growth with global airline engagement

In line with President Irfaan Ali’s vision for Guyana to become a major regional aviation hub, Ramesh Ghir, Chief Executive Officer of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), is spearheading Air Service Development efforts at the Routes World Conference 2025 in Hong Kong.
Ghir has held high-level meetings with representatives from major international carriers across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, showcasing Guyana’s rapid growth as a destination and discussing opportunities for expanded air connectivity.
“The response has been very positive,” Ghir stated. “The airlines were impressed by Guyana’s rapid rate of development and are constantly assessing the market with a view to providing airlift in the future.”
Leveraging his dual role as Chairman of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Ghir also engaged with numerous tourism bodies and airport leaders to develop a strategic, unified approach aimed at enhancing the country’s appeal as a destination. These collaborations are critical in positioning Guyana, and the wider Caribbean, as an attractive choice for international carriers and travellers alike.
Current market analysis reveals that over 600 passengers travel daily from Asia and the Middle East to the Caribbean, signalling a growing demand that Guyana is ready to accommodate.
Since 2020, the country’s aggressive air service development strategy has successfully attracted eleven new airlines, including British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, United Airlines, and Avianca Airlines, strengthening Guyana’s connectivity with global markets.
The Routes World Conference 2025 has drawn over 700 organisations, including more than 300 airports, 80 tourism bodies, and 200 airlines, with major carriers in attendance such as Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Air India, China Eastern and Southern Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.
Guyana’s push for expanded air connectivity is part of a broader plan to leverage the country’s strategic geographic location, burgeoning tourism sector, and economic growth.
With the recent boom in oil and gas revenues, the Government has invested heavily in infrastructure, airport modernisation, and tourism promotion to attract international carriers and tourists alike.
The strategy not only aims to increase passenger traffic but also to stimulate investment in hospitality, trade, and regional business partnerships. Air service development is seen as a key driver in positioning Guyana as a regional hub for commerce, tourism, and travel in the Caribbean and South America.
Only in August, the ground had been broken for the construction of a new terminal building at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), which is expected to be completed in about three years. The contract was awarded to BHM, an international company that forms part of the United Kingdom’s (UK) Mowlem Group.
The sod-turning ceremony was held in Timehri, marking the official start of the project. According to officials, the final design is now being completed, after which construction will commence. The project carries an 18-month deadline for completion once work gets underway.