Site identified for international airport in Negril - AAJ CEO

The Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) has identified a site for the establishment of the country's fourth international airport, which is to be located in Negril, Westmoreland.

The development follows the recent announcement by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, for the establishment of an international airport in the resort town.

President and Chief Executive Officer of the AAJ, Audley Deidrick, made the disclosure at a JIS Think Tank on Tuesday. 

He explained that the directive given to the AAJ by the Government was to determine the extent to which the Negril Aerodrome could be upgraded to an international airport, and consultants were hired to develop a master plan to transform the facility.

“We engaged consultants to do the necessary studies and out of those studies it has emerged that the present aerodrome is not suitable for development of a major international airport, taking flights using aircraft the size of a Boeing 737, which is now the most common aircraft utilised by airlines for transport,” Deidrick said.

He added that having done the research in the Negril area, the consultants have located an alternative site, which is within 15 to 20 minutes of the tourism belt and the Negril seven-mile beach.

Deidrick said plans are now being crafted for the development of the international airport, which is expected to ease some of the pressure off the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.

“This is to alleviate the challenges that tourists flying into Montego Bay face getting into Negril, a long journey which, at times, can become longer depending on traffic and road conditions,” he noted.

Deidrick said it could also be an alternative for persons in the parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover and even parts of St James.

Junior Opposition Spokesman on Transport, Odell Marsh, has urged the Government to rethink its Negril airport proposal and instead focus on upgrading the road network, especially the route linking the resort town to Sangster. 

Marsh argued that while it is important to expand Jamaica's tourism infrastructure, his People's National Party believes road improvements should take precedence over constructing a new airport.

"Many visitors to our beautiful island arrive at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, and it is essential to ensure they can reach their destinations—such as Negril—safely and efficiently," Marsh said in a statement on October 22. 

According to him, priority should be placed on road upgrades to improve safe and reliable accessibility for locals and tourists and avoid the high costs that will likely come with operating an international airport, among other things.

- JIS News contributed to this article 

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