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| Making the Mark |
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A brand new Sangster Int'l Noel Thompson, Hospitality Jamaica Writer THE US$42 MILLION massive expansion project underway at the Sangster International Airport has raised its profile to world-class standard, making it the best of its kind across the English-speaking Caribbean. The eastern concourse (Phase 1B) was officially opened on Friday, December 16, with the western end to be opened up within another two years. Phase 1B has been completed six weeks ahead of schedule and within its budget, meeting the airport's seasonal peak rush. Its retail programme includes 13 new units such as duty free shops, speciality retail shops, food and beverage units, among others. Eleven new boarding gates have been added to the facility, which will accommodate up to six wide-bodied aircraft. NO CO-MINGLE By year end, arriving and departing passengers will no longer co-mingle, which meets the ICAO standards. For many decades, passengers had co-mingled in the precincts of the departure and arrival walkway. At the official opening of the new concourse building Minister of Transport and Works, Rober Pickersgill, commented: "We are looking at a first-world facility. This has certainly vindicated what the Government did by privatising the airport." Meanwhile, Dennis Morrison, chairman of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), said work had already begun on the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, a project which will cost US$130 million and is expected to be completed in 2007. "We are on a programme to upgrade, expand and modernise the two international airports up to world-class standard," Mr. Morrison stated. He emphasised: "All of the resources being mobilised to carryout the works are being financed by private sector investments or from the resources of the AAJ and not by Government's budget." |
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