- Patrick Campbell/Staff Photographer
A porter at Sangster International Airport carries luggage through the new arrival hall.
Monique Hepburn, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
PASSENGERS PASSING through the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James, will now enjoy greater comfort as a result of the opening of a new arrivals hall yesterday.
The new addition features four hospitality lounges geared towards offering greater scope for relaxation.
The massive hall, which was officially opened by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson yesterday, is a 1,000 square metre expansion of the ground transportation hall, which was constructed at a cost of more than US$90 million.
"Since tourism is predominantly a service-oriented industry, we must ensure continuous improvement," Mr. Patterson said while addressing the gathering.
"The hundreds of thousands of visitors who pass through here get their first and last impression of our island right here," Mr. Patterson said, in highlighting the impact the new hall will have on passengers and the corresponding effect on the tourism sector. "The more positive their experience at this airport, the more likely it is that both visitors and Jamaicans will say: 'Soon come back' and add to our visitor arrival numbers."
TRANSPORTATION HALL
The Prime Minister noted that the new ground transportation hall is just one of a series of improvements being undertaken by MBJ Airports Ltd., which took over the management of the airport facility last year. This first phase was completed ahead of time and within budget.
Jorge Sales, chief executive officer of MBJ, told The Gleaner that he was pleased with the support he received from the Government as well as the high level of professionalism of the Jamaican workers. He lauded the workers for what he said was a speedy completion of the first phase of the project.
"The support of the Government has been splendid and we are comfortable working here in Jamaica," said Mr. Sales. "The project started last April and was completed in one year, we are pleased."
The newly upgraded arrivals hall at the Sangster International Airport includes:
Six new loading bridges.
Expansion of the Customs hall and baggage claim areas.
Implementation of Closed Circuit Television System.
A new user-friendly flight information system.
