Matthews Ridge Airport (MWJ)

Matthews Ridge Airport is a small domestic airstrip serving Matthews Ridge, a remote community in the Barima-Waini region (Region One) of northwestern Guyana. It provides the main air link between this hinterland town and the capital, supporting residents, mining activity and the movement of goods into the area.

The airport has a single runway and a simple terminal, with operations focused on domestic flights rather than international services. A recent rehabilitation delivered a 4,200-foot reinforced concrete runway, along with a parking apron, taxiways, runway markings and lighting to support night-time emergency and medevac operations, allowing larger aircraft such as Beechcraft-type planes to serve the community.

Located approximately 234 km northwest of Georgetown, Matthews Ridge is normally reached by air in about 45 minutes. There is no fast road link to the capital, so scheduled and charter flights are the practical way to connect with Georgetown and onward destinations, while local road access links the town with nearby settlements and mining sites.

Passenger facilities at the airstrip are basic, and onward transport should be planned in advance. The upgraded runway nevertheless strengthens access for medical evacuation, goods movement and local economic activity, making the airport an important gateway for this part of Region One.