Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
ONE MONTH ahead of completion and still within its budget, MBJ Airports Limited yesterday unveiled sections of its US$42 million (J$2.6 billion) upgrading work at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James.
Specifically, the south apron facilities have been completed.
The new concourse building located on the south side of the airport building, which encompasses Phase 1B of the three-phase airport expansion and modernisation project, has seen all operations transferred from the old finger - gates seven to 14, to seven new gates - eight to 19.
Incoming and outgoing passengers have already begun to reap the benefits of the new facilities of more jet bridges and an elevator. A new walking escalator becomes operational in one week, and by year-end, passengers will cease commingling.
"We are looking at a first-world, first-class facility," boasted a jubilant Minister of Transport and Works, Robert Pickersgill, as he spoke of the state-of-the-art amenities. "This has certainly vindicated what the government did by privatising the airport," he added.
Sangster's has in fact pushed Jamaica's notches above most other airports in the region, maintaining civil aviations best practices and international standards in the process.
When fully completed by December 2005, Phase 1B will house 13 new retail shops, gate lounges, restaurants and bars.
NEW FIRE TRUCK
A new fire truck valued at US$650,000 ($40.3 million) which has the capacity to hold 11,000 litres of water was also revealed to the large gathering, which included Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association President, Horace Peterkin and Airports Authority of Jamaica chairman, Dennis Morrison.
"It (the fire truck) will allow SIA to maintain the category nine level of protection under all circumstances," explained Jorge Sales, CEO of MBJ Airports Ltd. He explained that because of the size aeroplanes that use Sangster's certain type of equipment must be available to cover the airport.
The expansion trajectory has as its aim, the construction of a two level airport facility of 177,000 square feet. Arriving passengers will be processed on the ground floor through customs and immigration. On the first floor, international departing passengers will be processed.
Sangster's will feature 18 jet bridges aimed at eliminating congestion.
In the second phase of expansion, the customs hall will be increased by 200 per cent. Check in counters will be increased from 77 to 99. There will be two additional baggage carousels, 32 immigration desks for arriving passengers up from 12 and six X-ray machines.
Central to the upgrades will be the implementation of the CUTE (Common User Terminal Environment System, where each check-in computer is equipped to check in any airline and its passengers.
The US$190 million ($11. 78 billion) expansion began in April 2003 and the entire project is set for completion by July 2008. At that time, the airport will be able to accommodate 10 million passengers per year, tripling its current capacity.
