GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The government says it will introduce an automated passenger identification system at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to reduce processing times for Guyanese travelers as the country moves towards becoming a regional aviation hub.
“We want you to walk straight through when you come off the plane. The system must recognize 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,” said Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar.
He said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to position Guyana as a regional aviation hub.
“Making Guyana a regional hub, you have to have the infrastructure. That is why you will see that we [the government] are investing heavily in the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to ensure it looks modern. The people of Guyana can boast that we have an airport that is truly international in shape and form.”
The national e-ID card infrastructure will support the new system and use biometric technology to identify Guyanese upon arrival. Guyanese travelers will be able to move seamlessly through the airport, with facial recognition triggering automated gates.
Along with the digital upgrade, the CJIA’s physical infrastructure is also being expanded and modernized to meet international standards, in keeping with the government’s aviation ambitions.
Indar said that plans are in place to construct a second terminal, that the designs have been completed, and that contractors are mobilized, as Guyana continues to attract interest from international carriers.
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, adding that 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 Palmyra stadium.
“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,” Indar added.
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