MBJ CEO: SIA runway expansion to boost international flights

WESTERN BUREAU:

Shane Munroe, chief executive officer (CEO) of MBJ Airports Limited, is hailing the Sangster International Airport’s (SIA) runway extension and associated works project as indicative of the significant potential available for the development of Jamaica’s travel and tourism sector.

Munroe made the declaration on Thursday during a ceremony to officially open the newly extended runway at the SIA’s IAM Jet Centre in Montego Bay, St James. The runway underwent expansion work between 2019 and 2023 to increase its length from 2,652 metres to 3,060 metres, as part of a US$70 million (J$10.9 billion) project that also included public road and utilities relocation, shoreline protection, and coastline restoration.

“Today we gather to celebrate the culmination of the SIA Runway Extension and Associated Works Project, a transformative endeavour that signifies our collective commitment to advancing aviation in Jamaica. The project is a catalyst for economic growth, particularly through travel and tourism, which is Jamaica’s lifeblood,” said Munroe.

“Given that 85 percent of tourists arrive through SIA to Jamaica, the enhanced capabilities of our airport directly facilitate the future increased growth that is projected for tourist arrivals. The ability to accommodate aircraft with higher payloads and greater safety margins allows for maximising the potential for growth in international flights from further [distant] countries, significantly boosting tourism revenue, propelling economic vitality, and creating jobs across various sectors,” Munroe continued.

In 2023, approximately 4.17 million visitors came to Jamaica, surpassing September projections by the Ministry of Tourism for 3.88 million stopover and cruise passengers. There were 5.2 million international terminal passengers recorded as having passed through the SIA that year.

Munroe recounted how the runway expansion project began to take shape in 2016 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the AAJ and MBJ Airports Limited. A formal contract signing ceremony for the project took place in February 2022.

“This project took several years of planning and negotiations that led to the signing of an MOU between the AAJ and MBJ Airports Ltd in June 2016. The MOU defined the task, the scope, the financing, and the contractual arrangements for the execution of what is a strategic project with the vision of enhancing operational efficiencies and ensuring compliance with the highest international standards set forth by the International Civil Aviation Organization,” said Munroe. “Compliance with these standards represents our collective commitment to safety at SIA and aviation in Jamaica.”

AAJ Chairman Mark Hart, addressing Thursday’s ceremony on behalf of Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, likewise lauded the runway expansion as a pivotal move to highlight Jamaica’s regional aviation potential.

Regional aviation hub

“This is a significant moment for our nation’s aviation sector as we celebrate the opening of the extended runway of the SIA. The runway extension represents a crucial step towards enhancing our country’s connectivity, positioning Jamaica as a regional aviation hub,” said Hart.

“By extending the runway, we are not only increasing the capacity of the SIA, but also opening options for growth and prosperity, solidly defining its position as one of the premier airports in the region. The runway will not only increase the airport’s capacity to accommodate larger aircraft, but will also enhance safety and efficiency,” Hart added.

Meanwhile, in a brief address Deputy Prime Minister and National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang declared that the runway expansion will help to highlight Montego Bay as Jamaica’s tourism centre.

“The extension to Montego Bay’s airport has now placed our airport as one of the finest in the Caribbean not only in service, but it has the capacity to really absorb the long flights and keep Montego Bay as the centre of tourism activity in Jamaica and as one of the primary destinations in the Caribbean. Air travel is changing daily and annually, but we have to adjust, and I know the airport is adjusting, and I want to commend the AAJ and the MBJ team that took on this task and executed it well,” said Chang.

“The Montego Bay airport is symbolic of the republic of Montego Bay. We welcome this extension to the airport, and we look forward to an increasing number of activities here,” Chang added.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com