As expansion works at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) continue, evening flights will be affected during the latter two weeks of October in order to facilitate the merger of the existing runway to the new Taxiway Kilo.
In a statement released yesterday, CJIA said the decision was taken after several rounds of consultations had been done with airline officials and other aviation stakeholders.
As a result, CJIA said the aerodrome will be closed for specified hours on specific days between October 13 and October 31, to complete this phase of the US$150M expansion project.
CJIA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramesh Ghir was quoted as saying that the project team is working zealously to complete the works in an effort to minimise the impact on the aircraft flight operations.
“We eagerly look forward to this new phase of the expansion work where a new taxiway will be constructed to connect the new remote parking apron to the main runway,” Ghir added.
Last week, when Stabroek News queried whether evening flights would be affected by the expansion works, it was told by the CJIA’s Public Relations Officer that while the work is ongoing there would be “no disruption to the flight schedule.”
According to the CJIA statement, the Timehri facility will be transformed upon completion of the project. The runway will be extended from 7,500 feet to 10,800 feet, and there will also be a new Arrivals Terminal Building, two boarding bridges, with the provision to install another two at a later stage, a renovated Departures Terminal, additional duty free shops and increased parking facilities.
