Canopy Coming and Reno Planned for two major airports, Officials Update

By Sherrica Thompson

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, November 30, 2021 – A new canopy will be constructed at the Providenciales International Airport, said Emmanuel Rigby of the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA), in speaking at a press conference on November 18.

“The canopy is still in the tender stage and has not yet been awarded. Soon as it is done, we will give updates on the kickoff and the completion time.” said Mr. Rigby.

The TCIAA official said the canopy will take about five weeks to complete, and most of the work will be done at night, so it will not be long in the building process.

Mr. Rigby added that: “The canopy will be a shade for passengers to walk from the aircraft to the terminal building and vice versa. Also, we will use it at times as the holding cell if the international arrival hall is congested, we could still get passengers off the aircraft, and they could hold there until the hall can accept them.”

He said that the canopy will also be used as a safety measure.

“It (the canopy) also increases the safety measures for passengers walking on the tarmac. As it stands now, we only have a rope there where they’re walking through, so it will give increase safety to the passengers deplaning and also boarding the aircraft,” said the head of the TCIAA.

Mr. Rigby noted that there will be no seating areas in the canopy as it will be a standing room, and it will be able to hold about two to three aircraft’s capacity, depending on their position.

TCIAA also noted that the COVID-19 protocols will not affect the standing capacity of the canopy, and when the protocols are withdrawn it will be able to hold even more people.

In giving his updates, Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services noted that the redevelopment of the Providenciales International Airport will cover a larger capacity and the facility will last for another sixty years.

The Minister also provided updates on the Grand Turk’s JAGS McCartney International Airport which has been in a state of disrepair since the hurricanes of 2017.

“Grand Turk Airport, I am happy to report that works and plans are on the way to ready the JAGS McCartney International Airport for the receipt of international flights in short order,” said Minister Musgrove.