Transportion hall to be opened at Sangster Airport

Janet Silvera, Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator

Photo by Janet Silvera - Jorge Sales, chief executive of MBJ Airports Limited (centre), gets the attention of chairman of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), Dennis Morrison, (second right) and AAJ's Denton Campbell (slightly hidden right) during a tour of the new transportation hall at the Sangster International Airport. Sharing in the occassion were MBJ's Eugene Kraemer (left), interim director of tourism, Donnie Dawson (second left) and Clive Taffe, (behind Mr. Sales) regional manager of the Jamaica Tourist Board.

Three months ahead of its scheduled completion, an ultra-modern transportation hall equipped with first-world facilities is to be unveiled at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay by January 2007.

On completion, the airport will boast a new baggage claim and custom hall, ground transportation building, commercial pick-up area, staff parking, redevelopment and relocation of the existing car rental agencies.

expansion exercise

The new facilities are part of the expansion exercise of Phase two, stage two of the airport modernisation programme, which began in April 2003.

During a tour of the construction site recently, MBJ Airport Limited's chief executive officer, Jorge Sales, told Hospitality Jamaica that on completion the baggage hall will boast six new carousels, two of which will be extremely large and IATA compliant.

He noted that the new state-of-the-art commercial pick-up area would comfortably accommodate 23 large buses. Of particular importance he said, are the changes being made in relation to delayed baggage.

"Delayed bags will be handled differently, lost luggage passengers will not need to re-enter the custom area, like they currently do, but will receive their bags from a public area set up specifically to handle those matters."

Accordingly, he is assuring the public that this will greatly ease the challenges that passengers now experience to get their delayed bags. "They won't need to get approved airport passes, which will not only help with the comfort of passengers, but also enhance security measures."

MBJ's bullish stance has been highly commended by chairman of the Airports Authority of Jamaica, Dennis Morrison who told Hospitality Jamaica that he was very happy to see the tremendous progress made in the last six months. "This stage of the project which will modernise and expand the facilities for customs and immigration will enhance the experience of the traveller, especially since these are the first point of contact for the visitor."

good timing

The Airport Authority head who also wears the hat of chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) noted that the rapid increase in visitor arrivals has so far seen growth of over 20 per cent this year and, "The upgrading of the facilities could not be better timed."

"Jamaica has to compete aggressively to maintain our growth performance and airport infrastructure is a vital part of the supporting services for the industry.

The expansion trajectory has as its aim, the construction of a two-level airport facility of 177, 000 square feet. The entire project is set for completion in July 2008. On completion the airport will have the capacity to accommodate 10 million passengers per year, tripling its current capability.