LIAT being lured to operate from Ogle

Ogle International Airport (OAI) has made considerable progress in its negotiations with LIAT regarding that airline operating out of the East Coast Demerara airport when the new 4200-foot runway is finished.

Construction of the runway is currently 90 per cent complete, and OAI is hoping to have it done and ready for operation by September. Additionally, the OAI is expecting that the airport would get certification for the new runway to use Dash 8-type aircraft, operated by LIAT and Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL), by the end of this year.

On Thursday, OAI communications consultant Kit Nascimento told this newspaper that the negotiations with LIAT are “well advanced” and the airport is looking forward to operations beginning as soon as OAI gets certification for the Dash 8 aircraft. He emphasised that OAI is highly anticipating making Ogle International Airport a hub for passengers and trade traffic in the region.

OAI and LIAT started these discussions more than a year ago, when construction of the new runway started. The OAI executives have also been in talks with Caribbean Airlines. However, CAL airport manager Carl Stuart, at a recent meeting with Guyanese agricultural exporters, said that the airline has not yet made a corporate decision on having flights out of Ogle. “It is something that we (are) looking at. If it prepares new opportunities for us and the entire community, then it is something we would want to share and be a part of.”

When asked about Stuart’s comments, Nascimento said he is not aware of the statements, and does not wish to elaborate on the negotiations with Caribbean Airlines at this time.

In the meantime, Ogle Incorporated is looking forward to having more regional flights out of its airport to Caribbean and South American destinations, when certification for the Dash 8 aircraft is granted. While there are already flights to neighbouring Suriname, OAI is considering opportunities for flights to Brazil, especially in the Boa Vista area.

Apart from the new runway, phase I of the Ogle Development Project includes expansion of the terminal building and apron, works that OAI is also hoping would be undertaken this year. With regard to acquisition of more staff in preparation for the larger aircraft, Nascimento said it is under consideration.

In his National Budget presentation last week, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said that approximately Gy$367 million was expended last year to further develop and upgrade the Ogle International Airport with an extended runway to accommodate Dash 8 aircraft.

The OAI is funding the Ogle Airport Development Project with private investments, while the Guyana government is contributing to the latter aspect of the venture with a Cariforum grant.

Overall, the project is estimated at US$6 million, to be done in several phases. The first phase of the development project dealt with the mandatory safety improvements required by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). These included construction of a new 2500-foot runway parallel to the previous runway, a new terminal facility, development of the hardstanding aircraft taxi and parking areas, new and improved drainage, improved facilities for customs, immigration, air traffic control, and health and fire services.

This brought the airport to an internationally acceptable safety standard of operation, in keeping with the required environmental management plan.

In September 2009, the ICAO certified OAI as an international airport.