The Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana Inc said construction of 4,000 feet of runway at the Ogle Airport is in progress and is expected to be finished by late 2010.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release First Vice President and Treasurer of the Association Anthony Mekdeci made this announcement recently. The runway expansion is the second phase of the development project government has undertaken to boost the standards of the airport to those recognised internationally. The Ogle Airport Incorporated was accredited an international airport this year.

The first phase of developments to meet international standards entailed mandatory safety improvements required by the International Civil Aviation Organization. This included construction of a new 2,500 foot runway parallel to the existing runway, a new terminal facility, development of the aircraft taxi and parking areas, new traffic control and health and fire services.

The development project which costs 1.5 million euros has been funded by the European Union through the 9th European Development Fund. Caricom Secretary General Dr Edwin Carrington who acted as a conduit for Guyana to obtain the funding for the project had said that establishing the Ogle Airport Incorporated as an international airport will not only benefit Guyana but the Caribbean and Latin American countries. These benefits include improved intra-Caribbean transport, facilitation of transport between Caribbean and Latin American countries, the facilitation of Caricom governance, the co-mingling of Caribbean people and the promotion of multi-destination tourism.

Recently, top officials from LIAT indicated an interest in becoming the airport’s first regional carrier, the release said.