Guyana embracing technology, strengthening partnerships to improve passenger experience – Ghir

…as passenger traffic surges 400%

With passenger traffic to Guyana increasing by more than 400 per cent in recent years, continuous efforts are being made to enhance the passenger experience at the country’s main port of entry through the adoption of technology and bolstering stakeholder partnership.

This is according to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Ramesh Ghir, during a panel discussion on Wednesday at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026 that is being held in Georgetown this week.
The panel discussed ways to improve air connectivity across the Caribbean through greater access, expanded airlift and more seamless travel.
Ghir said Guyana’s expansion in regional and international air services has been driven by a willingness to pursue new opportunities, strengthen partnerships and make deliberate decisions aimed at improving connectivity. At the core of this
“We embrace the technology, and we have [introduced] our electronic gates,” the CJIA Head noted, adding that this has significantly enhanced the passenger experience in Guyana. “We took a conscious decision at the airport, for example, that we want to own the passenger experience.”
However, he pointed out a key element to achieving this was working with key stakeholders such as the airlines. Ghir said a lot can be lost in the lack of communication. In fact, he added that such engagements can even highlight some of the bottlenecks in the system.
“When we met with some of the senior leadership at the carriers, and we say, ‘Can you explain to us why is it that you have these 10 checkpoints?’, they themselves don’t realise that they have so many at the airport. And when they look at another carrier that is flying the same route, they have three less checkpoints. And so, [the airlines now] are making adjustments. They benefit because they’re able to get the passenger checked in efficiently. Of course, the passenger benefit too,” he posited.

Increases
According to Ghir, the CJIA has been continuously engaging the commercial carriers, cargo operations and other stakeholders to maintain and further improve operational efficiency. Moreover, he added that the airport has worked alongside regional airports, tourism stakeholders and other partners to identify potential opportunities and encourage airlines to increase their presence in Guyana.
These efforts, he pointed out, has been working for the CJIA, which continues to see massive growth.
“We have seen over 400 per cent increase in passenger in the last five years. This year, we are experiencing a 12 per cent increase in arrivals. Cargo, same thing; we are growing at 22 per cent this year [and] we have grown by 100 per cent in the past five years… Another remarkable feat we have had is to attract four new international carriers, both in 2024 and 2025,” the CJIA boss noted.

Terminal Two
Meanwhile, to accommodate the expected rise in traffic, plans are advancing for the construction of a new terminal at CJIA. Ghir identified the project as a key part of Guyana’s efforts to increase capacity and further develop the country as an aviation hub.
The modern 150,000-square-foot, three-storey facility is expected to incorporate elements of Guyana’s culture and way of life while offering travellers greater capacity and upgraded amenities such as duty-free zones, retail opportunities, rental offices and lounges. As part of the wider airport development, the existing international terminal is also expected to undergo reconfiguration.
The project is being financed in part by the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) and is being constructed by British company BHM Construction Inc. In Budget 2026, the Guyanese Government had set aside some $3.2 billion to advance the construction of Terminal Two, which is slated to be completed before the end of 2028.
The modern 150,000-square-foot building will showcase Guyana’s natural and cultural beauty as well as feature duty-free zones, retail opportunities, rental offices and lounges. With this new building, the CJIA will be able to dedicate separate buildings for arrivals and departures.

Capacity building
In addition to enhancing local aviation infrastructure, Ghir says equally important is capacity building, especially in positioning Guyana as a key hub for regional and international connectivity. To this end, he disclosed that Guyana is eyeing the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) market. MRO is a complete system of technical services, inspections, and regulations required to keep aircraft safe, legal, and airworthy throughout their operational life.
“There are very few around the world, but we believe having an MRO and having our training school [is the next step],” Ghir stated. “This vision is already outlined. A lot of work is being done in this area, and we’re still looking for partners to come and work with us. We want to be able to train from the ramp staff, ground handlers, to the level of pilots… There’re not enough aviation employees. The traffic is going to double by 2045, next 20 years… So, we want to be positioned as a hub [and] we’re going to invest.”