Aviation History
French Guiana is an overseas department of France, so its civil aviation falls under French and EU regulation. Cayenne's airport began as a U.S. Army airbase built in 1943, was purchased by France and named Rochambeau in 1949, and was renamed Cayenne–Félix Éboué in 2012; the territory's dense interior has historically depended on small regional carriers such as Air Guyane Express for essential connectivity, though that carrier ceased operations in 2023.
The U.S. Army Air Corps built the first airfield near Cayenne as a bomber staging base during World War II, the precursor to today's international airport.
France purchased the airfield and named it Rochambeau, establishing it as French Guiana's civilian gateway.
Air Guyane Express began operations in June 2002, providing regional links within French Guiana and to the French Antilles.
The airport was officially renamed in January 2012 to honor Félix Éboué, replacing the historically contested 'Rochambeau' name, while retaining the CAY airport code.
Facing severe financial difficulty, Air Guyane Express entered liquidation in August 2023 and ceased operations that October, ending over two decades of regional service.
Air Guyane Express (defunct, 2002–2023) · Air France · Air Antilles/Air Caraïbes group
Wikipedia, CAPA airport profiles, French aviation press