Air passenger numbers back up, says AATT GM

HAYDEN NEWTON, general manager of the Airports Authority, says three years after the first case of covid19, local airports are now operating at close to pre-covid19 levels.

“We are quite pleased that our passenger throughput numbers at the Piarco and ANR Robinson International Airports are back up to 95 per cent of pre-covid19 figures,” Newton said.

He mentioned the numbers during his welcome remarks at the ACI-LAC Airport Day Conference at the HYATT Regency in Port of Spain on Tuesday

He added that the Airports Authority is developing lands north of Piarco Airport to build an “Aerotropolis,” which will have leasing opportunities for logistics office spaces, retail, hotels, entertainment, air cargo and warehouse facilities, as well as maintenance and aviation services.

After his presentation he told reporters the 0.5 megawatt solar farm at Piarco is expected to be completed in a month’s time.

“We are actually on the final stages, because we have done all the physical work required for the equipment and putting it together,” he said. “I can tell you it will be commissioned shortly – in aviation time, that means within the next month or so.”

Minister of Transport Rohan Sinanan said air transport is one of the two angles from which government is looking at improving interconnectivity in the region.

He told reporters Caribbean Airlines has plans to expand its fleet.

“This will be to include more destinations within Caricom and have more frequent flights,” he said. “The Prime Minister has had very long conversations on interconnectivity for all Caricom states. We are looking at that from two angles – the air and sea.

“There are also conversations ahead where we are looking at a ferry service (for the region),” he said. “However there are a lot of dynamics to work out in that, because, as we are all aware, the ferry service is a very costly exercise.”

He said while the State subsidises the Trinidad to Tobago seabridge, he was not sure that would be applicable to a service across the region. However, he said that was being discussed and developed.

“I feel confident that one day we will get that ferry running through the islands where we can have that free flow of goods, services and passengers at a very economical rate.”