The federal government of Jamaica is crafting a “grasp plan” for a serious worldwide airport to be constructed within the vacationer city of Negril, Westmoreland.
That is in response to Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, who gave an replace on the event of the air transport amenities throughout the island on Thursday.
As Jamaica’s tourism trade continues to rebound from COVID-19 with document arrivals, many worldwide passengers have been complaining about overcrowding and longer wait instances on the Sangster Worldwide Airport in Montego Bay.
Vaz says one other main airport on the west finish of the island may take strain off Sangster’s — the busiest worldwide airport on the island.
“In Negril, there’s a marketing consultant that has been introduced on board to do a grasp plan for the enlargement of the Negril Aerodrome to develop into a world airport. That additionally may have a huge effect in relation to taking a few of the strain off of the MBJ airport (Sangster Worldwide Airport),” stated Vaz.
The Minister, nevertheless, gave no particular timeline as to when the airport might be constructed.
In the course of the winter vacationer season, which begins on December 15, Vaz stated it’s anticipated {that a} document 5 million vacationers will cross by means of the Montego Bay airport.
Vaz stated he in additionally anticipating vital arrivals on the Ian Fleming Worldwide Airport in St. Mary, which begins receiving business flights in February.
“In fact, you’re conscious of the Ian Fleming Worldwide Airport, which is anticipating [commercial] flights to start out in February 2024. In accordance with how that goes, I’m positive that with the rise in flights, which is twice weekly, and particularly with the demand for that finish of the island, in brief order these flight schedules will enhance considerably,” Vaz stated.
“Once more, we’re trying on the general plan for air transportation out and in of Jamaica as a precedence.”
Growth of Clarendon Aerodrome
The Minister additionally stated that plans are in place to develop the Vernamfield Aerodrome in Clarendon for cargo and logistics.
Vernamfield, inbuilt 1941, is a former World Battle II United States Military Air Forces airfield which has Jamaica’s longest runway. It turned a coaching vacation spot for jet cross nation flights and in 1948, was used as a base for climate reporting and housed the Navy Air Transport Service. The next 12 months, it was decommissioned and all buildings had been eliminated or torn down.
Final January, the Airports Authority of Jamaica indicated that it wished the long-abandoned Vernamfield airstrip to develop into the most important cargo hub within the Caribbean.
“Vernamfield continues to be very a lot on the agenda, as there’s an enterprise crew that has been fashioned to take a look at what truly would be the finest use for Vernamfield. That’s one thing you’ll hear about in brief order as properly, as a result of that’s a part of the general discussions we’re having in relation to airports and the utilization of airports in and throughout Jamaica,” stated Vaz.
