Montego Bay, December 16, 2019 – Jamaica – The operators of the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James, have commenced work to extend the runway at a cost of US$70 million.
The project, for which ground was broken on
Thursday (December 12), will entail, among other things, the length of the
strip being increased from 2,662 metres to 2,940 metres. The extension will
facilitate the establishment of safety areas at either end of the runway and
the installation of a jet blast screen intended to enhance the safe and
effective use of the taxiway.
It is also expected to reposition the airport to accommodate larger, more powerful planes, while significantly
reducing arrival and departure timelines. The development
is slated for completion by the end of the third quarter of 2020.
Sangster
International Airport is being operated by MBJ Airports Limited, under a
30-year concession agreement with the Government. The entity is a subsidiary of the partnership between Mexican entity,
GAP, and the Vantage Airport Group, headquartered in Canada.
Speaking at Thursday’s ceremony, Transport
and Mining Minister, Hon. Robert Montague, said the programmed extension forms
part of MBJ Airports’ capital improvement plan, designed to ensure the
facility’s continued compliance with local and international aviation safety
and security standards.
Mr. Montague said that in order to ensure the project’s sustainability,
the requisite enabling works that are integral to the undertaking will be
executed.
“There will be additional metres of safety zones, which will bring the
runway into compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization standards.
It is, indeed, a comprehensive overhaul that [will amount] to a far safer and
more efficient airport,” the Minister further stated. These inputs, he
pointed out, are expected to enhance the safety protocol
to facilitate heavier aircraft.
Mr. Montague noted that since Sangster
Airport’s privatisation in 2003, “every effort has been made [by the operators]
to ensure that there continues to be significant improvement [to the facility]”,
the third largest in the region.
“The airport
serves as the primary gateway to Jamaica and facilitates the transit of more
than 85 per cent of tourists arriving on the island and served a total of over
4.54 million passengers in 2018,” he informed.
Mr.
Montague said the new runway will guarantee the arrival of bigger planes and
more visitors, adding that “tourism and other related services will benefit
tremendously”. He further contended that it will have a domino effect that revolutionises
the entire travel experience to Montego Bay and, ultimately, boost Jamaica’s
economy.
“It is indeed
a great milestone and should be recognised nationally as a remarkable
contribution to Jamaica’s economic prosperity.”
He said that with the ability to cater to larger, more
powerful planes, the time in the air will now be drastically reduced for
aircrafts using our airspace and runway.
Mr. Montague assured that the Ministry remains committed to making
Jamaica’s aviation industry the best in the world, whilst attracting record-breaking
numbers of visitors.
Contact: Garwin Davis
Release: JIS
Photo Caption:
Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Robert
Montague (centre), converses with Member of Parliament for Central St. James,
Heroy Clarke (left), during Thursday’s (December 12) ceremony to break
ground for US$70-million Sangster International Airport runway extension
project in Montego Bay, St. James. Also pictured is outgoing Chief Executive
Officer of MBJ Airports Limited Dr. Rafael Echevarne.
Transport and Mining Minister, Hon. Robert
Montague (centre), breaks ground for the US$70-million Sangster International
Airport runway extension project in Montego Bay, St. James, on Thursday
(December 12). Also participating (from left) are: President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Airports Authority of Jamaica, Audley Deidrick;
Project Director for Surrey Paving Aggregate, Michael Archer; Member of
Parliament for Central St. James, Heroy Clarke; and Chief Executive Officer of
MBJ Airport Limited, Dr. Rafael Echevarne.
Garwin Davis Photos