11 new airlines serving Guyana since 2020, more to come – says CJIA CEO

In keeping with President Dr Irfaan Ali’s vision of transforming Guyana into a leading aviation hub in the region, Chief Executive Officer of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Ramesh Ghir, is spearheading air service development discussions at the prestigious Routes World Conference 2025 in Hong Kong.

Ghir has been holding a series of high-level meetings with senior executives from major international airlines across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, pitching Guyana’s growing role as both an investment destination and a gateway to the wider Caribbean and South America.

“The response has been very positive,” Ghir reported. “Airlines were impressed by Guyana’s rapid rate of development and are constantly assessing the market with a view to providing airlift in the future.”

Ghir, who also serves as Chairman of the Guyana Tourism Authority, has been engaging with tourism bodies and airport leaders to forge stronger global partnerships. He noted that such collaborations are essential in boosting Guyana’s destination appeal and aligning tourism with aviation growth. Current analysis shows that more than 600 passengers travel daily from Asia and the Middle East to the Caribbean—an untapped opportunity Guyana hopes to capture.

Since 2020, Guyana has pursued an aggressive air service development strategy, successfully attracting 11 new airlines, including British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, United Airlines, and Avianca.

The Routes World Conference is the largest annual gathering of aviation decision-makers, attracting over 700 organisations, among them more than 300 airports, 200 airlines, and 80 tourism bodies. This year’s event features some of the world’s largest carriers, including Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Air India, China Eastern and Southern Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, and Turkish Airlines.

With Guyana’s aviation and tourism sectors advancing in tandem, officials are optimistic that new partnerships from the Hong Kong conference will pave the way for expanded international connectivity.