An artist's impression of an aerial view of what the upgraded Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston will look like when construction works are completed. - Contributed

John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter

Though expansion work at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) will not be completed in time for the ICC Cricket World Cup next month, Earl Richards, president of the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ), is assuring that several key areas will be completed and measures implemented to ensure a smooth flow.

According to Mr. Richards, "there are a number of things that we have been doing like our dual carriageway entrance and car park that we expect to complete for March and there are three components of the main contract that we are working to bring to a certain state of completion."

Mr. Richards said the contractors were working to complete or bring to a state of readiness the construction of the double-level pier, the ticketing concourse, as well as the arrival and departure concourses and car park in time for the cricket tournament.

A state of readiness

"We are sort of pushing to have that (double-level pier) up and running ... for use but not complete because we want to move the temporary walkway that is around the area. Then there is a section of the departures building and additional ticketing counters that we also want to complete or put in a state of readiness."

The AAJ boss said additional entrance gates would be installed to improve access to the airport terminal.

The expansion of the NMIA forms part of the Government's US$117 million 20-year capital development programme. The work is being done in three phases with phase 1A expected to be finished by October, Mr. Richards said. A new departures building at the eastern end of the present terminal structure, a security screening station, an expanded arrival and ticketing concourse, four new passenger loading bridges, double-level pier and an improved road network and public car park are to be constructed in this phase at a cost of US$80 million. All three phases are scheduled for completion in 2020.

Also, Mr. Richards noted that changes in immigration procedures with the implementation of the single domestic space regime among Caribbean countries hosting the Cricket World Cup would lessen the processing time for visitors at the airports. This, coupled with the Customs Department's 'green channel' processing system would reduce congestion at the airport, he said. The 'green channel' system allows faster processing of visitors with nothing to declare.

But while tourism interests predict an influx of visitors to the island during the event, Mr. Richards said "we are not expecting any major traffic over and above what we would expect in summer or Christmas."

john.myers@gleanerjm.com