CJIA implements new fees for ‘improvements at the airport’

Passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) are now required to pay an additional US$35 or GY$7,315 (round trip) “to support improvements at the airport.”

Previously, the charge was US$25.

Departing passengers are required to pay an additional US$17 or GY$3, 564 while arriving passengers have to pay US$15 or GY$3,144.

In a statement Tuesday, Caribbean Airlines – one of the major carriers operating out of the CJIA – stated that the new charges became effective on April 01, 2019.

The airline said the sum accounts for “an increase in its (CJIA) airport security fee and the introduction of an airport passenger service charge.”

“The CJIA has advised all airlines that these increases are to support improvements at the airport,” CAL said.

The News Room learnt that the increased fees were communicated to the airlines approximately two months ago.

They were told to incorporate the increased fee in the cost of their tickets but reportedly failed to do so. As such, some passengers began protesting about the increase.

CAL said it began to facilitate the collection of the new fees at its check-in counters for departing passengers and in the arrival hall for arriving passengers this week.

However, for tickets purchased after July 01, 2019 the fees will be automatically included in the cost of the ticket at the time of purchase.

The CJIA Expansion project was scheduled to be completed by March 31, 2019.

In 2011, a contract valuing US$150M was inked for the contract.

An additional sum of $86M was provided to enable the construction of an access road to CJIA and a number of works proposed for the CJIA roundabout due to larger turning radius and cost associated with removal of utilities by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT).

The upgraded airport includes the new arrival terminal, four passenger boarding bridges and other amenities. It is the hope that with the completion of the expansion project, issues relating to insufficient public parking, overcrowding in the terminal and inadequate space for aircraft will be addressed.