The government of Jamaica is crafting a “master plan” for a major international airport to be built in the tourist town of Negril, Westmoreland.
This is according to Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, who gave an update on the development of the air transport facilities across the island on Thursday.
As Jamaica’s tourism industry continues to rebound from COVID-19 with record arrivals, many international passengers have been complaining about overcrowding and longer wait times at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.
Vaz says another major airport on the west end of the island could take pressure off Sangster’s — the busiest international airport on the island.
“In Negril, there is a consultant that has been brought on board to do a master plan for the expansion of the Negril Aerodrome to become an international airport. That also will have a huge impact in relation to taking some of the pressure off of the MBJ airport (Sangster International Airport),” said Vaz.
The Minister, however, gave no specific timeline as to when the airport will be built.
During the winter tourist season, which begins on December 15, Vaz said it is anticipated that a record five million travelers will pass through the Montego Bay airport.
Vaz said he in also expecting significant arrivals at the Ian Fleming International Airport in St. Mary, which begins receiving commercial flights in February.
“Of course, you are aware of the Ian Fleming International Airport, which is expecting [commercial] flights to start in February 2024. According to how that goes, I am sure that with the increase in flights, which is twice weekly, and especially with the demand for that end of the island, in short order those flight schedules will increase significantly,” Vaz said.
“Again, we’re looking at the overall plan for air transportation in and out of Jamaica as a priority.”
Development of Clarendon Aerodrome
The Minister also said that plans are in place to develop the Vernamfield Aerodrome in Clarendon for cargo and logistics.
Vernamfield, built in 1941, is a former World War II United States Army Air Forces airfield which has Jamaica’s longest runway. It became a training destination for jet cross country flights and in 1948, was used as a base for weather reporting and housed the Military Air Transport Service. The following year, it was decommissioned and all structures were removed or torn down.
Last January, the Airports Authority of Jamaica indicated that it wanted the long-abandoned Vernamfield airstrip to become the largest cargo hub in the Caribbean.
“Vernamfield is still very much on the agenda, as there is an enterprise team that has been formed to look at what actually will be the best use for Vernamfield. That is something you will hear about in short order as well, because that is part of the overall discussions we are having in relation to airports and the usage of airports in and across Jamaica,” said Vaz.
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