Delayed, Airside Canopy for PLS Airport

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, December 2, 2022 – The airside canopy to be installed at the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) will miss its deadline for completion once again according to the TCI Airports Authority.

In a press release dated November 30th the TCIAA said the canopy which should have been finished by the end of October was 60 percent complete and would be open for business in February instead.

Ground was broken by Crown Construction for the $1.2 million dollar canopy back in May.

The desperately needed upgrade has been plagued by repeated delays in construction forcing airline passengers to wait in the hot sun or pouring rain.

Ground was only broken this year after photos and videos of departing visitors to the islands sprawled out on the ground went viral.  It was one of the many overly congested scenes at the arrivals and departure terminals for an airport which is under-sized and unfit for purpose or expansion in air arrivals for the TCI.

Among the inconveniences the airside canopy is expected to alleviate, passengers coming in to Providenciales being forced to sit in their planes for hours before disembarkation.

The Management at the TCIAA, the statement on Wednesday, requested patience and cooperation from airport staff and travelers during the construction.

Lynco Williams, Project Manager cited the challenges of working with a restricted area as a reason for the slower than anticipated completion

The canopy is not a permanent solution but will be exchanged for a state of the art terminal in a few years.