KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC—The Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) has identified a site for establishing the country’s fourth international airport, which will be located in the tourist resort town of Negril, in the central parish of Westmoreland.
This development follows Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s recent announcement of the establishment of an international airport in the resort town.
AAJ President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Audley Deidrick explained that the government’s directive to the AAJ 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 the development of a major international airport, taking flights using aircraft the size of a Boeing 737, which is now the most common aircraft utilized by airlines for transport,” M\Deidrick said.
He said that after researching the Negril area, the consultants had located an alternative site within 15 to 20 minutes of the tourism belt and the seven-mile Negril beach.
Deidrick said plans are now being crafted for the development of this 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.
The President and CEO contended that the facility’s establishment will augur well for the growth of western Jamaica.
“In addition to catering to tourism traffic for the Negril facilities and properties, we posit that an airport in that part of Jamaica will also open up the western part of Jamaica to various forms of further economic development,” he noted.
Deidrick said it could also be an alternative for persons in the western parishes of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, and even parts of St. James.
“That’s the power of that airport as we see it, and when that time comes, and the Government gives the necessary approval to move into the construction phase, I am pretty certain that Jamaica will be happy to hear that announcement,” he added.
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