One of four boarding bridges in use by Air Jamaica at the Norman Manley International Airport. - Contributed

Norman Manley International Airports Limited is investing US$2.13 million (J$149.1 million) in five boarding bridges under the upgrading programme under way at the Kingston-based port.

NMIAL plans to procure the bridges from ThyssenKrupp Airport Systems out of Texas in the United States, but the deal has to pass Cabinet scrutiny prior to its execution.

The airport operators have already hurdled the National Contracts Commission, which endorsed the contract to Thyssen-Krupp in August.

Director of projects at the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), Patrick Saulter, said Norman Manley already has four boarding bridges installed, also supplied by ThyssenKrupp.

The new purchase will take the complement to nine.

The airport's master plan had provisions for four bridges initially, and consideration for more later.

"Since the installation of the four we have seen the demand for the additional five," said Saulter, "and so we are currently negotiating financing."

Target installation is by February 2008.

The boarding bridges are revenue earners for the airport.

Airlines are charged US$95.25, (approximately J$6,667) for the first two hours, and US$56 (J$3,920) per hour thereafter for the use of each bridge.

To recoup cost in five years

Based on those rates, NMIAL projects that it would be able to recoup the cost of the bridges in five years.

With the new boarding bridges, passengers would no longer be exposed to the elements when boarding or deboarding an aircraft at Norman Manley airport, as the finger-like extensions from the terminal building would connect directly at the door of the plane and eliminate the need for steps.

According to ThyssenKrupp's website, the company has been building passenger boarding bridges for over 30 years and has installed over 2,500 units.

john.myers@gleanerjm.com