Guyana well on its way to being regional hub for air travel – Min Edghill

…says aim is to move from 75% to over 90% in int’l aviation standards

On the occasion of International Civil Aviation Day, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill used the occasion to declare the progress Guyana has been making towards becoming a hub for regional air travel.

International Civil Aviation Day is being celebrated on December 7 under the theme “Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development”. According to Edghill, who is the subject Minister for the aviation sector, Guyana has made significant progress towards its goal of attracting and having the capacity for increased regional air traffic.
Investments in this regard have included establishing a State Safety Programme/Safety Management System (SSP/SMS), as well as upgrading the Communications Navigations Surveillance/Air Traffic Management System to improve the performance of the Air Navigation System.
Efforts have also been made to enhance Air Traffic Control monitoring capabilities using the Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-8) technology at strategic locations throughout the country.

“Over the years, Government has invested significantly in modernising the air transport system. Various efforts have been Implemented by the Government through the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to ensure the highest safety and security levels of aviation,” Edghill said.
“The impact of COVID-19 not only significantly affected domestic and international passenger traffic and air freight, but also the socio-economic activities that are generated from these events. Among the sectors that directly experience this effect is the tourism and hospitality sectors, as well as other related industries,” the Minister added.
Those efforts, according to Edghill, have been paying off since Guyana’s aviation sector continues to attract investors. According to him, the expectation is that modem facilities and services would be available to match this growth in aviation traffic, particularly at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
“Hence, to make these facilities available, Government has continued its developmental agenda by expanding and modernising aviation infrastructure such as the CJIA terminal buildings, its runway and the newly commissioned Instrument Landing System (ILS) to cater for increased flights, larger aircraft, improved safety for departures, and landings.”
“These initiatives are opening opportunities for Guyana to become a regional hub for air transport. We are pleased that the Eugene F Correia International Airport is one of the busiest aerodromes within the Caribbean and South American Region with more than 130 daily departures and landings,” Edghill said in his statement.
The Minister also referenced the fact that Guyana’s implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) has put it at a 75 per cent. According to Edghill, the goal is to reach 90 per cent implementation and above, in light of the seriousness of safety in the industry.
“Guyana was also recently recognised by the ICAO for having the highest index for Safety Oversight Capabilities among thirty-five (35) States in the South America, North America, Latin America and the Caribbean Regions, and the second highest index in the South American Region for its Air Navigation Services Safety Oversight Capabilities,” Edghill noted.
“Efforts to foster progress in aviation are also demonstrated through our endorsement of several bilateral and multilateral air services agreements with countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa which will serve as the platform for expansion of international travel fostering tourism expansion, creation of new routes and destinations, and partnership and cooperation with other Governments and stakeholders,” he added.
International Civil Aviation Day marks the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation on December 7, 1944, in Chicago. Additionally, the ICAO celebrates its 77th anniversary on this date.
It was only a few days ago that Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lieutenant Colonel Egbert Field, had revealed that six new airlines are showing interest in starting operations in this country.
Earlier this year, reports had indicated that providers such as FlyAllWays, InterCaribbean Airways, One Caribbean Limited, JetAir Caribbean, Skybus Airlines, Sky High Aviation Services and Guyana Rotorcraft Services Inc had expressed interest in operating in Guyana. So far, Skybus Airlines, InterCaribbean Airways and FlyAllWays have obtained approval to begin operating.