Cayman Islands authorities officers have authorised a $91 million, large-scale airport redevelopment plan to elongate the runway,
modernize the air visitors management system and construct a brand new terminal facility at
Grand Cayman’s Owen Roberts International Airport (ORIA).
The mission can even undertake “runway and security space
works” at Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on sister island Cayman
Brac, and revamp ORIA’s personal plane facility, stated Kenneth Bryan, the
Cayman Islands tourism minister.
Approved beneath the territory’s Airport Master Plan, the redevelopment
will “improve the safety, comfort and efficiency of [ORIA]” and Kirkconnell International
Airport, Bryan stated, whereas additionally supporting tourism progress throughout the territory.
“The tourism business is a serious contributor to our
island’s financial system and increasing the runway will present the flexibility to service
long- haul carriers,” Bryan stated
at a May 30 media briefing. “Ultimately we’ll be able to expand into new routes.”
New flight service will translate into “elevated in a single day
customer spending, elevated revenues for the Cayman Islands authorities and elevated
alternatives for added airlift in Grand Cayman,” Bryan stated.
The initiatives shall be funded by means of a brand new $5 airport
terminal payment and a $15 airport growth payment. The charges shall be included in
passenger ticket fares charged in the course of the mission work interval, anticipated to increase
from 2024 to 2029.
The redevelopment will now proceed to the “next phases” of
the method, together with “public session, environmental affect evaluation
and procurement,” stated Bryan.
Growth Pattern
The airport
redevelopment will ship “significant economic benefits” to the vacation spot,
Bryan stated. He famous that different regional nations – and tourism rivals –
have launched main airport and infrastructure packages.
“Destinations reminiscent of Anguilla Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas,
Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos Islands have
acknowledged the necessity for airport progress to extend their tourism sectors,” he stated.
“They have both made or are within the course of of constructing the
related investments and incentives to place themselves for the long run
enlargement of their tourism business.”
He added, “With as much as 25 % of Cayman’s GDP derived
from tourism, managing capability and functionality and competitiveness of our
airports is a strategic crucial [we] can not ignore.”
Bryan stated an evaluation of airports throughout the Caribbean
area reveals that the Cayman Islands “passenger-related fees” can be “extra in
line with locations reminiscent of Jamaica and Bahamas. In different phrases,” he stated, “we
wouldn’t be pricing ourselves outdoors the market.”
Flying Safely
Bryan stated airport security and modernization are high priorities
beneath the redevelopment. ORIA at the moment has no computerized air visitors
administration surveillance techniques, which means “air visitors is being managed
manually,” he stated.
Bryan stated questions of safety at ORIA and Kirkconnell International
Airport “will be rectified” beneath the redevelopment.
“Managing air visitors on this means isn’t solely outdated however [it]
reduces efficiencies and will increase the extent of security danger,” he stated.
“This specific mission goes to open up many
alternatives for us to have the ability to enhance our enterprise growth,” stated
Rosa Harris, the Cayman Islands’ tourism director.
“Given that the
vacationers’ first and final impression of the Cayman Islands is influenced by the
airport expertise,” Harris stated, “our islands require the final aviation
facility to be in keeping with subtle luxurious.”
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Source: www.travelpulse.com”