Cheddi jagan international airport address

History

The United States obtained rights to locate military facilities in British Guiana as part of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement with the United Kingdom in On 14 June , the first United States Army forces arrived to survey land for a bomber airfield near Georgetown.

Atkinson Field was built 28 miles (45 km) from Georgetown on 68 acres (28 ha) of land formerly known as Hyde Park, on the Demerara River.

The forest was cleared and hills were levelled and a long concrete runway was constructed.

Aeropuerto internacional cheddi jagan biography The airport was named after the former President of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, who served two terms from until his death in Today, the airport serves as a hub for both Caribbean Airlines and Fly Jamaica Airways, connecting the country to various destinations in North America, South America, and the Caribbean. It has one terminal building and two runways, with the longest being 10, feet long. The airport is equipped with modern amenities such as duty-free shopping, restaurants, and free Wi-Fi.

On June 20, the airfield officially opened with the activation of a weather station. The station was named after Lieutenant Colonel Bert M. Atkinson, a United States Army Air Service World War I aviator. Colonel Atkinson was the commander of the 1st Pursuit Wing on the western front in Colonel Atkinson retired from the Army in after a distinguished career and died on 27 April

The mission of the station was the defense of the colony against Nazi U-Boats.

The airfield was also a major staging point for American aircraft crossing the Atlantic Ocean heading to the European Theatre on the South Atlantic transport route.

Cheddi jagan biography It is the larger of the two international airports serving Georgetown with the other airport being the Eugene F. Correira International Airport. On 14 June , the first United States Army forces arrived to survey land for a bomber airfield near Georgetown. Atkinson Field was built 28 miles 45 km from Georgetown on 68 acres 28 ha of land formerly known as Hyde Park, on the Demerara River. The forest was cleared and hills were levelled and a long concrete runway was constructed.

Aircraft sold to the British forces by the United States were flown to Atkinson where they were turned over and ferried to North Africa. With the discovery of bauxite deposits in northeast Brazil in , the mission of the airfield was expanded to protect the coastline of northwest South America and prevent any submarine landings by Axis forces on the continent.

United States Army Air Forcesth Bombardment Squadron (9th Bombardment Group) was assigned to Atkinson field from 4 November to 31 October flying anti-submarine sorties in Douglas B bombers.

The th was replaced by a detachment of the 35th Bombardment Squadron (25th Bombardment Group) from 1 November to 7 October After the detection of U-Boat activity was taken over by the United States Navy, the 91st Reconnaissance Squadron (th Reconnaissance Group) was assigned to the airfield during and flying the F photo-recon version of the B Mitchell bomber on various mapping missions.

At the end of the war, Atkinson Field was reduced in scope to a skeleton staff.

The facility was opened for all air travel, including commercial air flights on 1 October The military airfield was designated Atkinson Air Force Base on 26 March by Department of the Air Force General Order Number The base was ordered closed on 31 July due to budgetary cutbacks.

Cheddi jagan airport The Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation was established on the 5th October by an amendment to the Public Corporations Act with the mandate to administer, operate, maintain and develop the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. It is responsible for all non-regulatory functions of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Our Mission is to provide an airport that is safe, efficient, financially viable and user friendly while providing a quality service that meets and exceeds all required International standards. To be the leading airport within the region through operational efficiency and quality customer care. The first airport facilities at the location were established in and named the Atkinson Aerodrome.

The final military cadre was 3 officers and 25 enlisted men upon closure, and the base was officially turned over to British authorities on 1 August

A modern terminal building was built and opened on 15 March When the new building was ravaged by fire on 5 August the old terminal building was renovated and used again until the destroyed building was replaced.

The lease of the facility by the United States was formally terminated on 26 May (Guyana's Independence Day).

Because the lease was terminated 74 years before its due end, a new agreement was reached giving certain specified rights to the United States in relation to the air base for the next 17 years.

In and additions were made to the airport facilities. On 1 May the Atkinson Aerodrome was renamed the Timehri International Airport - "Timehri" is a Carib word for rock motifs located deep in the Guyana hinterland that pre-date the arrival of Europeans in the New World.

The airport featured murals employing Amerindian motifs by Guyanese painter Aubrey Williams.

In March , following the death of President Dr. Cheddi Jagan, then-President Samuel Hinds decided to rename the airport the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. The proposition to rename the airport was proposed in the Parliament (National Assembly) by the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Vibert De Souza, who noted that it would be a fitting tribute to a man who had spent his life committed to the betterment of Amerindian people and fighting for the freedom and unity of all Guyanese.

A plaque bearing the new name was unveiled on May 21, by the Prime Minister, Janet Jagan.