From U-boat defense to a $150 million modern gateway
In short: During World War II, this Guyanese airfield served as a vital staging point for American aircraft crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Today, it functions as a primary international hub, but its history remains deeply rooted in military strategy and tropical geography, evolving from a defense outpost into a modern gateway.
Originally known as Atkinson Field, the airport opened on June 20, 1941, on 68 acres of land formerly called Hyde Park. Its initial mission was high-stakes defense: protecting the colony against German U-boats. By 1943, its role expanded further to protect the coastline of northeast Brazil following the discovery of bauxite deposits.
The facility saw heavy military rotation throughout the war. The US Army Air Forces' 430th Bombardment Squadron flew anti-submarine sorties in Douglas B-18 bombers until late 1942, followed by the 35th Bombardment Squadron. By 1944, the Navy took over U-boat detection, and the 91st Reconnaissance Squadron began mapping missions using F-10 photo-recon versions of the B-25 Mitchell bomber.
Transitioning to civilian use, the airport opened for commercial flights on October 1, 1946. It was briefly designated Atkinson Air Force Base in 1948 before closing due to budget cuts in July 1949. The site was renamed Timehri International Airport in 1969, honoring ancient rock motifs from the Guyana hinterland. Finally, in 1997, it was renamed Cheddi Jagan International Airport following the death of President Cheddi Jagan.
Modernization reached a milestone in December 2018 with a $150 million expansion that extended the runway to about 10,500 feet and added an arrivals terminal with eight boarding bridges. Despite its growth, the airport's history includes significant safety incidents, including a 2011 Boeing 737 overrun and a 2018 Fly Jamaica Airways flight overshoot that resulted in one fatality.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Cheddi Jagan International Airport
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