President Irfaan Ali says the new Terminal Two building at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is being designed to showcase Guyana’s cultural identity while improving passenger capacity, airport efficiency and international connectivity.
Speaking at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2026 in Georgetown last week, Ali said modern airports must offer more than facilities for arriving and departing passengers, arguing that they should reflect the destination’s identity and ambitions.
“Here in Guyana, we embrace this change. That is why we are investing in Terminal Two, not only as a new terminal, but as a terminal that will tell the story of Guyana and where Guyana aspires to be,” the President said.
Ali told the conference that tourism investments must be designed around resilience, market demand, visitor expectations and the overall travel experience.
“An airport today is not an airport of yesterday. It’s not an airport for persons to come in and go out. The airport itself must be able to tell a story and present a picture,” he said.
The planned 180,000-square-foot, three-storey facility will feature duty-free shopping, retail spaces, rental offices and lounges. The expansion is also expected to allow the airport to operate separate buildings for arrivals and departures.
The sod for Terminal Two was turned in August 2025, with construction commencing earlier this year. The project is being undertaken by United Kingdom-based BHM Construction Inc. in collaboration with Manchester Airport Group Ltd.
The facility is scheduled for completion before the end of 2028. Budget 2026 allocated $3.2 billion towards advancing construction, while the project is being financed in part through support from UK Export Finance.
Other planned improvements at CJIA include relocating the air traffic control tower to create additional aircraft parking space, installing an upgraded baggage-handling system, introducing off-site check-in services and developing a modern VIP lounge.
The expansion comes amid significant growth in passenger traffic. CJIA processed 973,016 passengers in 2025, representing a 14 per cent increase from the 856,831 recorded in 2024. Passenger movements reportedly increased by 433 per cent between 2020 and 2025.
Guyana also recorded 360,623 visitor arrivals during the first nine months of 2026, according to the figures provided.
Beyond infrastructure development, the Government is seeking an international airline to establish a hub at Terminal Two, positioning Guyana to facilitate connections between South America, the Caribbean and Africa.
Last month, Ali said the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation had been mandated to begin discussions with major international carriers interested in using the new terminal as a regional or international base.
“We are looking now for a partner in Terminal Two, someone who will take Terminal Two as their hub, their global hub,” Ali said, adding that the Government was ready to advance negotiations with interested international carriers.
The Government is positioning Terminal Two as a central component of its wider ambition to develop Guyana into a regional aviation hub while strengthening the tourism sector.
