Montego Bay airport expansion project episode 13
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- čas přidán 25. 10. 2022
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Sangster International Airport is the leading tourism gateway to the island of Jamaica - one of the world’s most beautiful and desired destinations.
Jamaica lies just 550 miles south of Florida - at the very heart of the Caribbean. The destination has earned its global recognition by capturing the imagination of visitors with the unique appeal of its scenic and rugged interior - the Blue Mountains rise to well over 7,000 feet - combined with the unmatched beauty of tropical beaches bordering the blue-green water of the Caribbean Sea. Each year, more and more visitors from around the globe are attracted by the island’s magic, its history and its world-class facilities.
Sangster International Airport is ideally located on the northwest coast of the island - at the centre of the country’s main tourism region and close to a wide range of hotel and resort facilities. The airport is within easy driving distance of the cruise ports at Montego Bay a
Sangster International Airport and Jamaica: an unbeatable partnership!Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James, was first conceived in 1936 when the site now housing the Sangster International Airport was identified as one suitable for the construction of an airport in the town of Montego Bay. Originally named the Montego Bay Airport, a decision was made to build the runway in 1940, and the actual construction of the facility was completed on 18 February 1947. At the time of its completion, the town of Montego Bay was more like a playground for the rich and famous, and was considered then, one of the premier vacation spots within the Caribbean, just as it is today.
The first international airline to fly into the Montego Bay Airport was Pan American Airways (which eventually became Pan Am), and the airport, which in comparison to today's standards, was more like a small aerodrome, was operated by Pan American until 30 September 1949, when the Jamaican government took control of the facility. However, the Sangster International Airport, as known today, is nothing like it was in the early days. One of the most noticeable differences was that initially, the terminal building was on the northern side of the runway but was shifted to the southern side of the runway during one of the several upgrading exercises that took place at that facility, which was necessitated by the growth in air traffic over the years. Plans for the construction of a new terminal at its present location, on the southern side of the runway, were announced in July 1955. the plans for the new terminal building was part of what turned out to be a continued upgrading and restructuring of the facility, to enable it to cope with the growth in traffic. The original terminal was built and opened on 7 July 1959, with a capacity to accommodate 500 passengers per hour, and parking for seven aircraft at a time.
Divestment and expansion Edit
Over the years, the upgrading process was a continuous one, ultimately the facility had grown into the larger of the three international airports in Jamaica, handling approximately 3.7 million passengers per annum in 2007, and had seen an increase in passenger and aircraft movement in 2009. The management and partners of the airport have been trying to seek with passengers from Asia, but the project stalled in 2010.
Since January 2001, plans have been executed to expand the airport to the status of a world-class airport. The new eastern concourse of the Sangster International Airport (SIA) (the result of phases 1A and 1B) was officially opened in December 2005. Phase two was then due to begin towards the end of 2006; however because the economic conditions were favourable and the tourist trade in Jamaica is increasing, phase two was brought forward to January 2006.
A planned expansion of the main runway was in a preparation phase but due to the poor economic conditions, the runway expansion project was stopped in 2012 indefinitely. This expansion would have afforded the airport a fully functioning 10,000-foot (3,000 m) runway to accommodate large aircraft traffic. MBJ Airports Limited also commissioned a new customs hall, arrivals lobby and transportation center in March 2007. Since then, further expansion and renovation projects such as the relocation of the immigration hall and duty-free mall have been launched and was completed in September 2008. this facility has increased the handling capacity to nine million passengers per annum. Plans are also in place for the relocation of the tower, domestic terminal and others.
In 2006, there was a change in management at the airport following the change in the consortium that operates this facility. Relations between the new management and unions have been difficult, with a strike in November 2007 and in November 2009.
The airport won the World Travel Awards' "Caribbean's Leading Airport" for the years 2005, and 2009 to 2017
Beautiful !! Wow!
Wow! The airport is just so beautiful
Yes Rajiv wow is the word
I love what I see! Very good shots and narration Stewy.
Thanks Paul glad you loved it
Montego Bay has truly transformed into something great ... All that's missing now is Air Jamaica to come back under a better and bolder more practical management.
Thanks for watching,yes it has,word
It's not fully transform yet.it has quite bit of way to go before it can truly claim the title of truly world class airport. But it is getting there. They just need to continue the transformation.
I think this one of finest airport terminal have watch in African, super amazing from 🇳🇬
Thanks for watching and commenting Okan All the way from Africa
Amazing video Stewy. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching and commenting you are most welcome
Great vid and updates!
Thanks for watching and commenting
Thanks Stewey that’s beautiful. I have been following you from the beginning. I share your videos.😊. Have a great day.
Thank you Chester much appreciated
Thank you for the updates. The expansion is beautiful! Cant wait to get back to MBJ.
You are most welcome, Montego Bay awaits you
@@1STEWY Its always a beautiful place to visit, especially when we get our -40 weather and 4ft of snow LOL. Keep up the good work and keep posting ur videos!
Wow - Time to come back. Huge improvement
Okay Tony we await your arrival
Love the vids Stewy.
Thanks Ridley for watching and commenting glad you liked it
Walked through there few months ago impressive, bought a Wendy's burger not cheap ,long wait
Thanks for watching and commenting Ellis hope you had a wonderful trip
I love the improvements. Beautiful.
I love it too definitely beautiful
Jamaica Airport authorities are doing a great job with the airport and I am super happy you have put in the time doing these videos for us. Big up yourself. Love from the UK 🇬🇧
Thanks Marva much appreciated
The Montego Bay airport is privately operated ?
@@waynemcfarlane1233 yes
Hey Stewy! Long time, been busy. Another great vid as always. Kudus!!
Thanks Phyllis, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to watch and comment much appreciated
Thanks again really appreciate it watching from st Lucia
Thanks for watching you are most welcome
Wow when Kingston gonna look like this my word
Eventually it will Yani que, thanks for watching and commenting
Awe..thank you Stewy, great content, as usual, ❤, should be there in a few weeks God's will
Thanks much appreciated, have a pleasant trip to Jamaica
Thanks for keeping us up to date on the airport. The terminal really looks modern.
You are most welcome yes it does
Pipe dream Marci…but I get the sentimentality
Here watching bro
Thanks man
Thanks for keeping us updated with MB J
You are welcome
ZDA Construction Limited constructed the building. Designed by GW Architects.
Thanks for the info Tajae
Wonderful work as usual my brother! Airport being transformed before our very eyes, loving every bit of it. Keep those videos coming…
Thanks Karl, I definitely will
what can you say. BEAUTIFUL!
Thanks for watching and commenting Conway
Wow, what a beautiful site ❤loving it.
Yes Mike truly beautiful, thanks for watching
🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲👍👍💯
Loving it Angella
I travel to montogo Bay mostly every year. I was there a few months ago, so I am excited to be returning there soon and hopefully be flying out of the island to visit Canada quite regularly too. Absolutely beautiful, where you can see the aircrafts landing and taking off. Get in jamaican one in the net. Nice, nice and nicer.
Nice, nice and nicer loving it Ellisa, thanks for watching and commenting
Fun Fact gates 1 to 5 will be further renovated and the ceiling will be raised to allow for more natural light and consistency in design. Also the water feature at the front of the terminal and the I ❤️ Montego Bay sign will soon be dismantled to start prepping for expansion to the terminal in that area. The outgoing security and immigration area will be expanded. Work is expected to begin the end of 2022 and completed in 2024.
Oh so the terminal building will be expanded without additional gates.
If it's in that area the expanded will take place.
@@omaredwards9298 Great question would love to know the answer, more gates and more floor space needed. Tourism is booming in Jamaica.
Thanks for this info. Is there anywhere online we can go to see the proposed redesign? Will more gates be added?
Thanks Wade much appreciated
Thanks for this and previous updates Stewy 🙌🏽
You are most welcome mypal
Good looking way to go hopefully the bar prices will be moderate!
I think so too Anthony , I think they are moderate
Simply amazing 👏
Thanks for watching and commenting King Naldo, amazing it is
excellent job bro great content thanks for sharing
Thanks Maurice you are most welcome
Love the look so far hope there keep it up
Glad you loving it,they have to
Thanks for doing this video i normally come at montego bay o i know what to expect Great.
You are most welcome Asher hope you come soon
Awesome video! Thank you!
You are most welcome
Hoping the authorities will landscape the area. Something that is missing in Jamaican construction. Make the surrounding area beautiful as well. i
I'll keep you updated Conway
I remember when this airport was smaller and the inside was painted blue. They started renovations after hurricane Andrew. Back then the main airline was Air Jamaica
We have come a long way Tony , thanks for giving us a little of the airport history much appreciated
Beautiful continue to give us the update respect
Thanks for watching and commenting, I definitely will continue
Excellent video Stewy
Thanks Franklin much appreciated
Great video as usual. Much appreciated. I'd love to see them add more gates to the airport given the increase in traffic. It seems like we have a new airline or route every month.
Thanks very much over time the side which currently holds gate one will expanded to the West towards the present domestic terminal
@@1STEWY Makes sense. looking at the terminal and airfield layout that would be the easiest location for expansion. Any idea when they'll get started?
@@PlaneAF876 Not off the top of my head but I have seen something on paper that points in that direction base up on my understanding, let's see
Yes atlease 6 more gates to make it 25 gates.
Good video of the new MBJ, looking beautiful, far cry from what I used to see when traveling. Can't wait to see how the final product will look. Good things can happen in Jam if we want it.
Thanks for watching and commenting and for the positive words much appreciated
Great job my brother the terminal is beautiful so when work going to start and the terminal checking area let us know keep up the good work
Thanks for watching and commenting Fitzroy I'll definitely keep you updated on any new improvement but the check in area is very nice even the restrooms on the ground floor has been refurbished
That area was already improve.
No island grille
I'm not sure Mike, can't recall seeing one but there's quite a few restaurants
Airport seems quiet in your video, what season/month was it? Im going in the end of august
Thanks for watching and commenting Emily, this was in the month of October 2022 ,it was done early in the day in mid week before the peek hours begin, expect a lot more people traffic in August 2023 as this is a record breaking year for arrivals at Mbj but recent upgrades has made the process of traveling through the airport a much better one compared to previous years, do have a great trip and welcome to Jamaica
czcams.com/video/Lb3bNCRjOao/video.html
@@1STEWY thanks for reply! I did read article about that,, i was debating whether club moby is worth paying for or now
Well if you are thinking club Mobay they do have a dedicated immigration line but could be affected by the amount of persons using the service on your arrival, have a great one Emily
Whats the completion date?
Sorry for the late response Duke, this work is in phases so this phase early 2023, thanks for watching and commenting