Major Spending Planned For Upgrade Of Airports

• A sum of more than US$200Mn is to be spent over the period 2022 to 2025, for capital expenditure programmes at the nation’s international airports and aerodromes, with a figure of US$70Mn slated to be spent this financial year. 
• Minister of Transport and Mining Hon. Audley Shaw made the announcement during his contribution to the 2022/23 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on April 27. 
• The upgrades will include runway expansions which will increase runaways by approximately 400 metres to 3,060 metres, and provide runway end safety areas as mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Additionally, it will enable airports such as the Sangster International Airport to accommodate long-haul flights from destinations it cannot now serve, such as East Asia. 
• These planned upgrades provide a potential tailwind for increased overnight tourist arrivals which will ultimately support the recovery of the tourism industry as airports will now have the ability to secure travel routes from previously untapped destinations.

(Sources: JIS News & NCBCM)