News
13,000 Travellers expected at PLS this Weekend says TCIAA
By Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
#TurksandCaicos, March 24, 2022 – This coming Saturday 8,000 travellers and on Sunday, 5,000 more will be either inbound or outbound at the Providenciales International Airport. So, undoubtedly, the destination is hot, but for those looking on, the right kind of hot is critical to true success as a leading tourism escape in the Caribbean.
“Approximately 8,000 passengers are expected to be handled at the Providenciales International Airport on Saturday, March 26th, 2022. Of those 8,000 passengers 7,000 will land and depart Providenciales within a continuous 5-hour window between 11am-4PM. All airlines, with especially American Airlines with as many as 11 flights, will arrive during the peak period.
On Sunday, March 27th, 2022 another 5,000 passengers are expected, which will present a much more manageable situation.”
The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association, TCHTA says it is optimistic that the TCIAA and Government will work with them to make it a better experience.
“We are concerned in a big way, but we know that there are limitations to the existing structure. We are optimistic that in working with the new CEO some agreeable solutions may be found to resolve the congestion,” said Stacy Cox, Executive Director of the TCHTA.
The Airports Authority says a hands on approach to improving the travel experience at the country’s leading airport gateway, the Providenciales International Airport, is not only being activated in time for the weekend coming but was seen last weekend as well.
“Last weekend officials from the Ministry of Border Control and the Deputy Governor were on hand and took measures to address the issue related to the clearing of inbound passengers. Their efforts and intervention proved most effective and are welcomed,” said the Airports Authority in a Wednesday statement to media.
The real need is manifold in size; a mega expansion of the PLS which has been estimated to cost upward of $350 Million. The plans are in heavy discussion informs Government, but will obviously not make it through the pipeline in time for the remainder of March and April 2022.
Travel will continue to be record breaking for the next six weekends at least.
The Airports Authority informed that despite some published reports of an $80 million dollar expansion a decade ago, the investment then was $10 million.
(Magnetic Media has made that correction)
It was also thought to be too little; lacking the vision and confidence that the Turks and Caicos was indeed a highly sought after, luxury escape which would outgrow the expanded space, officially dedicated in December 2014.
It took mere months to prove skeptics right.
“TCIAA is aware of the issues of passengers having to remain onboard aircrafts due to the lack of capacity in the arrival hall. We are working with relevant authorities such as Immigration, Customs, the airlines, and hoteliers to expedite this process. Conversations have occurred, are ongoing, and will continue until solutions that work and that we are satisfied with are achieved.”
Recommendations for there to be refreshments, entertainment, greeters or hosts even cooling fans to be stationed have all been made. The TCIAA, in the Wednesday statement revealed the results of a needs assessment to create a smoother operation at the terminal building.
To manage the expected arrival of some 13,000 passengers this weekend the following measures will take place;
- Additional security will be deployed for faster check-in and passenger clearing.
- All security scanning positions will be deployed and manned to meet the projected passenger demand.
- Additional staff will be deployed for passenger and guest services as has been the case over the past weeks to mitigate congestion. Providenciales International Airport Turks and Caicos Islands Tel: 649.946.4420 Web: www.tciairports.com Email: nikeva@tciairports.com FB: www.facebook.com/tciairports Twitter: @tciaa
- We understand that an increased number of Immigration Officers will be utilized. As the Minister responsible, we will deploy additional support from other islands to Providenciales if necessary.
- We also understand that more Health Service Officers will be available and are currently being coordinated.
- Extra management, supervisory and customer service representatives are necessary to handle visitor questions and processing and will be deployed.
- The departure lounge capacity is not a quick fix. The immediate solution might be to work with Hotels and Villa operators to better coordinate the departure of our guests. This will be explored by the TCIAA. We are still working on these solutions with external stakeholders. This could have added cost and logistics to the stakeholders however we must see the greater good and we strongly encourage our accommodation stakeholders to work with the TCIAA on this effort.
- The Airports Authority is reviewing the use portable and modular space for passengers in both arrival and check-in space as a temporary solution.
- Transparent discussions with restaurants and supply chain operators are ongoing about innovative and operational ways to make passenger experience more acceptable.
Eyes will be on the airport this weekend to see if the collaboration is effective in dousing the ‘hot mess’ which has become an unsavory label and which has been pushed out on social media.
This one came to our newsroom following the horrendous lines over the St Patrick’s Day weekend.
“Hot, super crowded, messy. It’s an embarrassment to the country that this is the first and last place we see.”