Cheddi Jagan International Airport

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Cheddi Jagan International Airport
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Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGovernment of Guyana
OperatorCheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Corporation
ServesGeorgetown, Guyana
LocationTimehri
Elevation AMSL95 ft / 29 m
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Websitewww.cjairport-gy.com
Map
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Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
06/24 11,023 3,360 Asphalt
11/29 5,003 1,525 Asphalt
Statistics (2024)
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Passengers856,830[1]
Passenger changeIncrease17%
Source: DAFIF[2][3]

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Cheddi Jagan International Airport (IATA: GEO, ICAO: SYCJ), formerly Timehri International Airport, is the primary international airport of Guyana. The airport is located on the right bank of the Demerara River in the city of Timehri, 41 kilometres (25 mi) south of Guyana's capital, Georgetown. It is the larger of the two international airports serving Georgetown with the other airport being the Eugene F. Correia International Airport.

History

File:Landing Fields - British Guiana - British Guiana - NARA - 68159113 (page 1) (cropped).jpg
View of Atkinson Field, 1946
File:Arrivals - Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Guyana.jpg
Passengers arrive at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, July 2014

Atkinson Field was built 28 miles (45 km) from Georgetown on 68 acres (28 ha) of land formerly known as Hyde Park, on the Demerara River. The forest was cleared and hills were levelled and a long concrete runway was constructed. On 20 June 1941, the airfield officially opened with the activation of a weather station. The station was named after Lieutenant Colonel Bert M. Atkinson, a United States Army Air Service World War I aviator. Colonel Atkinson was the commander of the 1st Pursuit Wing on the western front in 1918. Colonel Atkinson retired from the Army in 1922 after a distinguished career and died on 27 April 1937.[citation needed]

The mission of the station was the defense of the colony against German U-boats. The airfield was also a major staging point for American aircraft crossing the Atlantic Ocean heading to the European Theatre on the South Atlantic transport route. Aircraft supplied to the British forces by the United States were flown to Atkinson where they were turned over and ferried to North Africa. With the discovery of bauxite deposits in northeast Brazil in 1943, the mission of the airfield was expanded to protect the coastline of northeast South America and prevent any submarine landings by Axis forces on the continent.[citation needed]

United States Army Air Forces 430th Bombardment Squadron 9th Bombardment Group was assigned to Atkinson field from 4 November 1941 to 31 October 1942 flying anti-submarine sorties in Douglas B-18 bombers. The 430th was replaced by a detachment of the 35th Bombardment Squadron (25th Bombardment Group) from 1 November 1942 to 7 October 1943. After the detection of U-boat activity was taken over by the United States Navy, the 91st Reconnaissance Squadron (344th Reconnaissance Group) was assigned to the airfield during 1944 and 1945 flying the F-10 photo-recon version of the B-25 Mitchell bomber on various mapping missions.[citation needed]

At the end of the war, Atkinson Field was reduced in scope to a skeleton staff. The facility was opened for all air travel, including commercial air flights on 1 October 1946. The same year, British West Indian Airways (BWIA, now Caribbean Airlines) was operating nonstop passenger service to Port of Spain, Trinidad.[4] The military airfield was designated Atkinson Air Force Base on 26 March 1948 by Department of the Air Force General Order Number 10. The base was ordered closed on 31 July 1949 due to budgetary cutbacks. The final military cadre was 3 officers and 25 enlisted men upon closure, and the base was officially turned over to British authorities on 1 August 1949.

The airport had jet service in 1961 when Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) was operating Boeing 707 flights with a weekly round trip routing of Paramaribo - Georgetown - Port of Spain - Barbados - New York City.[5] At this same time, Pan Am was also operating weekly Douglas DC-6 propliner service on a routing of Belém - Cayenne - Paramaribo - Georgetown - Port of Spain - Caracas - Curaçao - Port Au Prince - Miami.[5] Also in 1961, British West Indian Airways (BWIA) was operating all flights from the airport with Vickers Viscount turboprop aircraft with nonstop service to Port of Spain with direct one stop service to Barbados.[6] BWIA then introduced jet service with Boeing 727-100 aircraft during the mid-1960s and by 1966 was operating all of its passenger service into the airport with the 727 on nonstop flights to Port of Spain and also to Paramaribo in addition to all-cargo flights nonstop to Port of Spain and direct to Miami operated with Douglas DC-4 prop aircraft.[7]

The lease of the facility by the United States was formally terminated[8] on 26 May 1966.

In 1965 and 1968 additions were made to the airport facilities. Also in 1968, British West Indian Airways (BWIA) was operating direct, no change of plane Boeing 727-100 jet service to New York City via JFK Airport via intermediate stops in Port of Spain and Barbados.[9] On 1 May 1969, the Atkinson Aerodrome was renamed the Timehri International Airport, after ancient rock motifs in the Guyana hinterland. Murals in the airport, painted by Aubrey Williams, feature the designs. In 1971, BWIA was operating daily nonstop service to Port of Spain from the airport with Boeing 707 jetliners.[10] By 1973, ALM Antillean Airlines was operating Douglas DC-9 jet service on a routing of Paramaribo - Georgetown - Port of Spain - Curaçao - Kingston - Miami three times a week according to the Official Airline Guide (OAG). Air France was serving the airport in 1977 with round trip service flown twice weekly on a Pointe-a-Pitre - Fort-de-France - Port of Spain - Georgetown - Paramaribo - Cayenne routing operated with a Boeing 737-200.[11] Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) was serving the airport in 1980 with daily one stop Boeing 707 jet service to New York JFK Airport via an intermediate stop in Port of Spain.[12] In 1981, Guy-America Airways was operating nonstop Boeing 707 jet service between New York JFK Airport and Guyana three days a week.[13]

In 1983, according to the Official Airline Guide (OAG), four airlines were operating scheduled passenger air service at the airport: ALM Antillean Airlines, Arrow Air, British West Indies Airways (BWIA, formerly British West Indian Airways) and Guyana Airways.[14] At this time, ALM was operating McDonnell Douglas MD-80 jet service nonstop to Port of Spain, Trinidad, with one stop direct MD-80 flights to Curaçao, U.S.-based Arrow Air was flying nonstop Boeing 707 jet service to JFK Airport in New York City, BWIA was operating nonstop McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50 jet flights to Port of Spain and locally based Guyana Airways was flying Boeing 707 nonstop service to Barbados, Miami, New York JFK Airport, Paramaribo, Suriname and Port of Spain. The OAG also lists local and regional flights operated by Guyana Airways with Hawker Siddeley 748 and de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprop aircraft at this time. Guyana Airways had earlier operated Boeing 737-200 jet service from the airport in 1981 with nonstop flights to Barbados, Miami, Paramaribo and Port of Spain.[15] By 1989, two airlines were operating nonstop flights between the airport and New York JFK: Guyana Airways with three Boeing 707 flights a week and Tropical Airways flying stretched Super Douglas DC-8 jets twice a week.[16] In 1993, Guyana Airways was operating nonstop Boeing 757-200 flights from GEO to New York JFK Airport three days a week while BWIA and Leisure Air were operating direct one stop flights from New York JFK Airport, BWIA with McDonnell Douglas MD-80 jets five days a week via an intermediate stop in Antigua and Leisure Air with Airbus A320 jets once a week via an intermediate stop in St. Lucia.[17] In 1995 Barbados-based Carib Express was operating British Aerospace BAe 146-100 jet service to destinations in the Caribbean.[18]

In 1997, the airport was named after President Cheddi Jagan, following his death in March of that year.[19]

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport underwent a 150 million dollar modernization and expansion. The runway was extended to about 10,500 feet and the expansion provided a new arrivals terminal building with eight boarding bridges, elevators and CCTV. This was completed in December 2018. However, the check-in facility opened at the same time.[20] In March 2023, British Airways commenced service to London's Gatwick Airport via Saint Lucia.[21]

Facilities

The airport sits at an elevation of 95 feet (29 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt paved runways: 06/24 measuring 11,025 by 148 feet (3,360 m × 45 m) and 11/29 measuring 5,002 by 148 feet (1,525 m × 45 m).[2] The terminal has six ground level gates and four boarding bridges.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Air Transat Seasonal: Toronto–Pearson[22]
American Airlines Miami,[23] New York-JFK[23]
Avianca Bogotá[24]
British Airways London–Gatwick,[25] St. Lucia–Hewanorra[26]
Seasonal: Barbados (begins 26 October 2026)[27]
Caribbean Airlines New York–JFK,[28] Port of Spain,[29] Toronto–Pearson[30]
Copa Airlines Panama City[31]
Fly All Ways Havana,[32] Paramaribo[33]
InterCaribbean Airways Barbados[34]
JetBlue New York–JFK[35]
KLM Amsterdam[36]
Liat20 Antigua[37]
Sky High Havana,[38] Santo Domingo–Las Américas[39]
Surinam Airways Barbados,[40] Miami,[41] Paramaribo[41]
United Airlines Houston–Intercontinental[42]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 30 July 2011, Caribbean Airlines Flight 523 overran a runway in rainy weather while landing at Cheddi Jagan International Airport and went through a chain-link perimeter fence. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, broke in two just behind the first class cabin. There were no fatalities, although at least two passengers suffered broken legs and many others suffered lacerations and other injuries. Caribbean Airlines confirmed that 163 people (157 passengers and 6 crew members) were on board the aircraft at the time.[43]
  • On 9 November 2018, Fly Jamaica Airways Flight 256, bound for Toronto, overshot the runway when making an emergency landing for technical issues in the Boeing 757's hydraulics.[44] This caused significant damage to the aircraft and one passenger fatality. The airliner involved, B757-200 registration N524AT was deemed beyond economical repair and written-off.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Aviation, Guyana. "Cheddi Jagan Airport processed record passenger numbers in 2024". guyanaaviation.com. Retrieved 28 January 2019.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b Airport information for SYCJ from DAFIF (effective October 2006)
  3. ^ Template:GCM
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Jan. 1, 1946 British West Indian Airways system timetable". www.timetableimages.com. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  5. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Aug. 1, 1961 Pan American World Airways system timetable". www.timetableimages.com. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."April 10, 1961 British West Indian Airways system timetable". www.timetableimages.com. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sept. 1, 1966 British West Indian Airways system timetable". www.timetableimages.com. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."U.S. Releases Guyana Base". Desert Sun. UPI. 27 May 1966. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."April 28, 1968 British West Indian Airways system timetable". www.timetableimages.com. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."July 1, 1971 BWIA International system timetable". www.timetableimages.com. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Air France Summer Timetable". Airline Timetable Images. 1977.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."April 27, 1980 Pan Am system timetable". www.departedflights.com. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sept. 1, 1981 Guy America Airways timetable". www.timetableimages.com. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."July 1, 1983 Worldwide Official Airline Guide (OAG), Georgetown, Guyana flight schedules". www.departedflights.com. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."April 26, 1981 Guyana Airways system timetable". www.timetableimages.com. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Jan. 9, 1989 Official Airline Guide (OAG), New York JFK Airport flight schedules". www.departedflights.com. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  17. ^ Oct. 1, 1993 OAG Desktop Flight Guide, Worldwide Edition, Georgetown flight schedules
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Airliners.net | Aviation Photography, Discussion Forums & News". Airliners.net. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."About us". CJ Airport-GY. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."CJIA check-in facility could open weekend". Ministry of Public Infrastructure. 4 May 2018. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."British Airways touches down in Aruba and Guyana with two inaugural flights to the Caribbean" (Press release). British Airways. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Heading to Guyana: Air Transat Announces a New Non-Stop Route Between Toronto and Georgetown". newswire.ca. 8 May 2025.
  23. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.LaSur, Lee Yan (4 January 2024). "American Airlines adds another daily flight on Guyana-U.S route". St Vincent Times. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Avianca Announces New Direct Route Between Georgetown And Bogota". 10 October 2024.
  25. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Chabrol, Denis (2 January 2025). "Stranded British Airways passengers arrive in Guyana, others depart CJIA for London". Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."British Airways Resolves Issue Of Passengers Stranded In Saint Lucia". St. Lucia Times. 4 January 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Airways, British (16 March 2026). "British Airways announces major winter 2026 expansion". British Airways. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Euzarraga, Matthew; Gustafson, Spencer (6 April 2026). "Woman gives birth mid-flight en route to New York City". WCBD News 2. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  29. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Davis, Clair (7 March 2026). "Caribbean Currents: Flight disruptions cloud Caribbean travel plans". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  30. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Reimagining Guyana Airways: What Guyana Can Learn from Turkish Airlines and the Nordic Aviation Model". Guyana Business Journal & Magazine. 7 January 2026. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  31. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."COPA offering more flights between Guyana and Panama". Stabroek News. 8 January 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  32. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Cuba grants approval for nonstop flights between Georgetown & Havana". INews Guyana. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  33. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Grimal, Annarella (25 July 2022). "Fly AllWays inicia vuelos directos entre Cuba y Guyana". CiberCuba (in español). Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  34. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Udler, Karen (17 April 2026). "You Can Now Island Hop Around the Caribbean From Barbados, With Flights to 5 Different Destinations". Caribbean Journal. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  35. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."JetBlue to introduce second daily flight between Timehri and NY". Stabroek News. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  36. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."KLM Airlines Starting Amsterdam To Guyana Flights Via St. Maarten On June 4". 6 March 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  37. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."LIAT 2020 launches direct flight to Georgetown". 14 November 2024.
  38. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Sky High Dominicana to introduce non-stop flights from Cuba to Guyana from May 27". 18 May 2024.
  39. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."SKYhigh Dominicana begins operations in Guyana". INews Guyana. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  40. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Surinam Airways to fly between Guyana and Barbados". December 2023.
  41. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sipinski, Dominik (18 August 2022). "Surinam Airways resumes regional operations". ch-aviation. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  42. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Gonzalez, Sofia (30 November 2023). "United Airlines unveils first-ever nonstop service from Houston's IAH to Georgetown, Guyana". Houston Business Journal.
  43. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Caribbean B738 bei Landung zerbrochen". aero.de (in Deutsch). 30 July 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  44. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Aviation Safety Network". Retrieved 31 July 2019.

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