Guyana signs six new air services agreements with several countries

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has secured six new Air Services Agreements (ASAs) with Panama, St. Maarten, Uganda, Ecuador, Liberia, and Kenya, further strengthening Guyana’s air connectivity across Latin America and Africa. The agreements were finalized during the 17th ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN 2025) held in Punta Cana from November 10–14, 2025.

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The new agreements provide the legal framework for airlines to expand routes to Guyana, boost trade, and support economic growth. With these additions, Guyana now has bilateral and multilateral air services arrangements with over sixty countries.

Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar said the agreements are critical to advancing the country’s aviation sector. “Air Services Agreements signed by Guyana are necessary to advance our aviation sector. We are building a transformative aviation sector and having ASAs with other states is critical to accomplishing the vision of connecting Guyana with the rest of the world and building the Cheddi Jagan International Airport into an international air transport hub,” he said.

The GCAA noted that the agreements are expected to attract airlines from the partner states to consider Guyana as a destination, enhancing the country’s efforts to position CJIA as a regional hub.

On the sidelines of ICAN 2025, the GCAA also signed technical cooperation Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Cabo Verde and the Dominican Republic. While non-binding, these MoUs lay the groundwork for collaboration on aviation safety, regulatory oversight, training, system development, and modernization.

Additionally, GCAA has begun negotiations with France to update the 1974 Air Services Agreement and has initiated discussions toward a new ASA with Austria. These steps aim to create more liberal arrangements for airline operations between Guyana and these countries, further expanding international connectivity.

The ICAN 2025 event saw Guyana represented by GCAA officials led by Director General Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field and Dinello Mahabir, Manager of Air Transport Management, who signed the agreements on behalf of the country.

The GCAA said the agreements reflect Guyana’s ongoing commitment to enhancing air transport services, trade, and economic development, signaling a major step in the country’s vision to develop CJIA as a strategic hub in the Americas and beyond.