Guyana advancing biometric passenger system at CJIA to cut processing times

The Guyana Government is advancing plans to introduce an automated passenger identification system at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) aimed at reducing processing times for Guyanese travellers.

Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, announced on Monday that the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to position Guyana as a regional aviation hub.

The system will be supported by the country’s national electronic identification infrastructure and will use biometric technology to identify Guyanese citizens upon arrival. Travellers will be able to move through the airport using facial recognition, which will trigger automated gates.

“We want when you come off the plane, you walk straight through. The system must recognise that you are a citizen. Your face will appear on a screen, the system will signal the gate to open, and you will walk through. You don’t have to see anybody as a Guyanese,” Indar explained.

The announcement was made during the opening of the Women in Aviation Conference 2026.

Alongside the digital upgrade, CJIA’s physical infrastructure is also being expanded and modernised as part of the government’s aviation development plans.

“Making Guyana a regional hub, you have to have the infrastructure. That is why you will see we [government] are investing heavily in the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to ensure it is modern-looking and the people of Guyana can boast that we have an airport that is truly international in shape and form,” the minister said.

Indar also disclosed that plans are in place to construct a second terminal at the airport. Designs have been completed and contractors have already been mobilised.

He added that interest from international carriers continues to grow, following a recent engagement in Brazil.

Guyana currently hosts approximately 16 airlines, a significant increase from four in 2020. These include Copa Airlines, American Airlines, Surinam Airways, and Caribbean Airlines.

“In 2020, we had four airlines. Now we have 16. That means we added 12 new airlines, which is no easy feat, and more are coming,” Indar said.

Efforts are also underway to re-establish regional routes that were affected by the collapse of LIAT.

Beyond developments at CJIA, the government is also constructing two municipal airports in Berbice and Lethem to support regional development.

The Berbice facility is expected to serve major projects in the region, including oil and gas operations, pipelines, a power plant, and infrastructure developments such as the stadium at Palmyra.

“We need an airport that can accommodate jets for now so that they can land on a 6,500-foot runway and they can leave directly from there so you don’t have to come and then drive,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, the Lethem airport is being developed with a strategic focus on handling passenger and cargo traffic from northern Brazil, further supporting Guyana’s goal of becoming a regional aviation hub.