The expansion of the Norman Manley Inter-national Airport (NMIA) in Kingston is expected to yield at least a two per cent increase in income per annum when completed, according to Earl Richards, president of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ).

Speaking at a press briefing following a tour of the facility with Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Housing, Water, Transport and Works, Mr. Richards said on Tuesday that the expansion will attract new airlines to the country, which will in turn increase the revenues of the NMIA.

He said the non-aeronautical revenues will also be increased as there are plans to expand the retail shops at the NMIA. This expansion, he added, will include mostly local entrepreneurs.

Project on schedule

Meanwhile, according to project manager Graham Bailey, of the contracted company KIER Con-struction Ltd., the expansion project was on schedule.

Mr. Bailey said the first phase of the three-level facility will be completed by March to facilitate Cricket World Cup 2007.

This three-level facility will include the ground floor section of the new departure building, the passenger pier and the renovated arrivals area.

"Arrivals will be facilitated at the ground level, while departures will be on the second," Mr. Bailey said.

He added that the first phase will see four bridges being completed. They will be at gates 1, 9, 5 and 6.

A total of five new elevators, as well as two escalators, will also be installed.

Norman Saulter, director of projects at the AAJ, told The Gleaner that upon completion, the departure lounge of the airport will increase by five fold.

"The current departure lounge is 2,000 square metres, when completed it will be 10,000 metres," he said. "The flow will continue in the same westward direction."

The expansion of the NMIA began in March and is valued at US$50.5 million (approximately J$3.3 billion). It is scheduled to be completed by October 2007.

The project is a part of the Government's 20-year plan to improve the facilities at the airport.