MINISTER PICKERSGILL WELCOMES US AIRWAYS TO JAMAICA

Minister Robert Pickersgill on Saturday, February 19, 2005 welcomed the latest airline service to Jamaica, that of US Airways. The flight made its maiden trip to Kingston to the Norman Manley International Airport.

Speaking at the welcome ceremony for the airline, Minister Pickersgill used the opportunity to highlight the fact that Fort Lauderdale (US Airways’ newest hub) and the airline’s extensive network will easily facilitate connections for both inbound and outbound passengers. He also noted that the airline’s entry into Jamaica will provide an opportunity to have greater number of US visitors travelling to the island. Minster Pickersgill noted also that the island’s other major airport, the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay was privatised in April, 2003 to MBJ Airports Ltd and that an extensive upgrading and improvement programme is well underway there.

PHASE 1A of that programme included :
· The expansion of the immigration and Customs Halls
· The commissioning of 6 loading bridges
· The addition of four aircraft parking positions and the rehabilitation of sections of the taxi-way.

All the above was completed on time and within budget at a cost of $US 31.4.

PHASE 1B is currently being worked on and include: the building of a new airside concourse at a cost of $US 42.5M which should be completed on target by year end. Eleven additional jet bridges are to be commissioned into service and four aircraft parking positions with the requisite taxiway.

For PHASE 2, design work is 50% complete on development plans at Sangster Airport. These will involve total refurbishing of the existing terminal building and the addition of a new section as well as another loading bridge at an estimated cost of $US46.2M. It is expected that PHASE 2 works will begin immediately on conclusion of the current PHASE 1B programme.

As far as concessions at the Sangster Airport are concerned, 13 concessions have been put out to tender under PHASE 1 of the retail concession programme. PHASE 2 will be put to tender in mid 2006 at which time 42 new concessions will be offered.

In hailing US Air’s foray into Kingston, Minister Pickersgill noted that the tourist market for Kingston needs to be stimulated and developed to its full extent. In this respect, he says that the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) is now actively involved in addressing the situation in collaboration with other tourism and business partners.

Continuing, Minister Pickersgill said, ‘The inclusion of Kingston in your scheduled service is a signal of your confidence in the potential for business and tourism between our countries to grow. Your entry in this segment of the market will certainly help to ensure that there is no constraint in seats or cargo capacity. It will also help in ensuring that the market remains competitive.’

Turning to developments at the Norman Manley Airport, it was announced that a major expansion programme has been embarked upon consequent upon the completion of a Master Plan in October, 2004.

PHASE 1A of that development to be completed in early 2007 will result in the construction of a three-level Departure Concourse; this will be integrated with the existing Ticketing Concourse. The new and redeveloped Ticketing Area will accommodate fifty-four Check-In desks. The Ticketing area will also have the capacity to accommodate well-wishers, family and friends within the terminal; a situation which will please those who will want to spend a little more time with loved ones prior to departure.

A new departure lounge with retail offerings and facilities to comfortably accommodate passengers will be erected on the third floor of the Concourse. The existing Arrivals/Departure pier will be re-developed to provide a two-level structure to accommodate the separation of arriving and departing passengers. That particular development will also result in Passenger loading Bridges installed.

All these developments at the Norman Manley Airport can only enhance its importance to the city of Kingston. This is so in that as a business, the airport generates over 13,000 direct and indirect jobs and economic activity valued at an estimated $J15.2B which is equivalent to approximately 5.6% of Jamaica’s GDP.

The ‘new face’ of the Norman Manley Airport is expected to be unveiled in February, 2007. This will coincide with the hosting of World Cup Cricket in the Spring of 2007 when an especially large inflow of visitors is expected in Kingston.

Tribute was paid to the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) for continuing to ‘ensure that Jamaica’s proud safety record is guarded by taking every step to achieve industry compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and recommended practices. The Government has approved resources to the JCAA to upgrade and improve the island’s navigation infrastructure. An investment in radar technology to cover the Kingston Flight Information Region (KFIR), airspace over and around Jamaica, an area some 26 times the size of Jamaica has also been undertaken.

Minister concluded by noting that ‘the introduction of this new service route demonstrates your faith in our Airport and in Kingston as a destination…and that the inauguration of this added service between our countries will ensure to a long and mutually satisfactory partnership.’