Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 05, 2017 News
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Ramesh Ghir, reported yesterday that for 2016, the airport processed 572,439 passengers compared to 504,032 for the corresponding period in 2015.
He disclosed this at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI)’s Year-in-Review, 2017 Projections media engagement at the Transport and Harbours Sports Complex, Thomas Lands, Georgetown yesterday.
Ghir stated that this figure represents an increase of 14 percent over last year and is the highest passenger movement ever recorded by the Airport. This is the third time that the 500,000 mark was surpassed.
He added that the Corporation collected income amounting to $1.291 Billion in 2016 compared to $1.138 Billion for the corresponding period in 2015 which reflected a 13 percent increase.
EXPENDITURE
Ghir reported that in 2016, the Corporation expenditure amounted to $919M compared to $767M in 2015, a 20 percent increase. This, he said, is due mainly to the increase in staffing and infrastructure maintenance cost.
He pointed out that this expenditure does not include depreciation cost, since the figures being reported are on a cash basis and not accrual basis.
INCREASE IN PASSENGERS CARRIED
The CEO stated that several carriers had enjoyed an increase in passengers carried in 2016. As at November 2016, Suriname Airways has recorded a 65 percent increase; Fly Jamaica Airlines, 79 percent; Insel Air, 16 percent; Dynamic Airways, 23 percent; and Copa Airlines, 97 percent.
Stressing that Copa almost doubled the number of passengers moved, Ghir said that this can be attributed to the airline increasing its flights from two to four weekly.
Caribbean Airlines on the other hand, had recorded a 10 percent decrease. This, Ghir said, was due to the airline reducing its flights.
NEW CARRIERS FOR 2016 INCLUDED
Last year saw the introduction of three new carriers to Guyana.
Ghir said that Eastern Airlines commenced operations in May 2016 and as at November 2016, the service had moved almost 16,500 passengers.
Another introduction to the airport was Fly Allways which commenced operations in August 2016. This service moved some 2,300 passengers and EasySky, which commenced operation in October 2016, operating out of Honduras. This airline primarily transported Cubans, reportedly moving 11,700 passengers in the two months.
PASSENGER MOVEMENTS BY DESTINATION
The North American market continues to occupy almost 77 percent of traffic. However, this represented a decline with 2015 recording 80 percent.
The CEO explained that over the years, the North American market has been seeing a decline which means that Guyana is getting an increase in passengers from other destinations especially from within the Region.
As it relates to the passenger movement by destination, Ghir stated that New York is still the destination of choice, recording 47 percent; Canada, 17 percent; Miami, 12 percent; Panama, eight percent; Jamaica, four percent; and Trinidad, four percent.
CARGO
As at December 2016, the estimated Cargo Imports through CJIA amounted to 4.2M kilograms (Kg) or 20 percent more than the imports for 2015.
Similarly, 3.2M Kg of Cargo was exported or 22 percent more than 2015, Ghir told media operatives.
He provided a breakdown of incoming cargo where hatching eggs accounted for 24 percent; industrial supplies, 23 percent; personal effects, 19 percent; consolidated cargo, 13 percent; drugs and medicine, three percent; and other items, 15 percent.
Meanwhile fruits and vegetables accounted for 91 percent of outgoing cargo.
2017 GOALS
As it relates to goals for the CJIA in 2017, the Corporation is eyeing the establishment of a cambio service that accepts all major credit cards; and the introduction of a Car Rental Service.
Resurfacing works on the Public Car Park is also slated to begin in the first quarter of this year with the international apron also expected to see works of this nature.
The CJIA will also be looking to procure and install aerodrome signs and the installation of additional perimeter fence lighting some time later in the year.
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Apr 19, 2024
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