Cabinet has given its blessing to plans to transform the Boscobel Aerodrome into the country's third international airport.

The Airports Authority and the Tourism Enhancement Fund will foot the $300-million bill to finance the transformation, which will include the expansion of the runway and a general upgrading of the facility.

Requirements

The St Mary-located international airport will cater to mainly private jets and should be open for business by the first quarter of next year.

"The establishment of an international port of entry requires that appropriate border controls, law enforcement, health and aviation security systems are instituted," Daryl Vaz, minister with responsibility for information, said during yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House in St Andrew.

According to Vaz, a new terminal building is to be built with a new fire truck garage, air-field lighting and perimeter fencing, among other changes.

The Ministry of National Security is also to assign personnel to undertake duties at the new airport.