Jamaican airports set to reopen on July 5

FLIGHTS in and out of the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston, Jamaica are expected to resume from July 5, and the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay is set to reopen at 6pm.

A report from Jamaica’s Airport Authority (AAJ) on July 3 said sections of the passenger pier roof at NMIA, to which jet bridges are attached, were damaged during the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

Beryl’s eye wall brushed Jamaica’s southern coast on the afternoon of July 3.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Jamaica had not seen the “worst of what could possibly happen.”

The report said major debris was scattered on the airport apron. The runway, terminal and other facilities are said to be usable.

Given the damage to the passenger pier, the AAJ said the airport would remain closed on July 4 for corrective and interim makeshift measures, with the aim of reopening on July 5 at 5am

Sangster International was left relatively unscathed, the AAJ said.

The AAJ also said the Ian Fleming International Airport in St Mary and its three domestic aerodromes –Tinson Pen, Negril, and Ken Jones – were in good condition and operational. These facilities were reopened at 7am on Thursday.

It added, “Passengers and other stakeholders in the travel and tourism industry are advised to stay tuned to the announcements by the respective airports and their airlines regarding the recommencement of operations and flights.”