MBJ Airports BFM 81

MBJ AIRPORTS

TRAVEL UNDER THE NEW NORMAL

Shane Munroe, MBJ Airport’s CEO.

MBJ AIRPORTS

WE LEARN HOW MBJ AIRPORT IS USING THE LOW-TRAFFIC PERIOD FOLLOWING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO HELP REFURBISH AND EXPAND SANGSTER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

TRAVEL UNDER THE NEW NORMAL PROJECT MANAGED BY: JOHN HOLLIMAN

MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ) is responsible for operating the Sangster International Airport (SIA), the main airport on the island of Jamaica.

MBJ Airports Limited is formed by the partnership between two companies, Desarrollo De Concessiones Aeroportuarias S.A. (DCA), a subsidiary of Mexico-based Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (GAP), with a 74.5% interest, and Vancouver, Canada-based Vantage Airport Group, with the remaining 25.5%.

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BJ has operated the Sangster International Airport since April 2003 under an agreement with the Government of Jamaica.

Since its inception, the airport has undergone significant expansion of the infrastructure and marked improvements to both the facility and operation of same. As evidenced by the numerous awards and recognitions received, the Sangster International Airport is certainly considered one of the best in the Caribbean and among the top ten airports in the world,” says Shane Munroe, MBJ Airport’s CEO. MBJ Airport’s strategy for managing Sangster International is built on making the travel experience of the passenger the main focus.

“The level of hospitality services offered at the Sangster International Airport has been so impressive, that for 12 years consecutively, the World Travel

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Awards, bestowed on our facility the much-coveted title of The Caribbean’s Leading Airport.

Further to that, the Conde Nast Traveller Reader’s Choice Awards has placed Sangster International as the fifth Best Airport in the World for 2020,” the CEO commented.

The airport serves as a vital gateway for the island’s tourism sector, as well as other international travel.

When we spoke with MBJ last year they reported footfall of 4.7 million passengers a year, expecting to cross the 5 million passenger threshold within the next 12 months.

AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW

MBJ Airports Limited has been engaged in an extensive programme of expansions and refurbishments to serve its growing customer base.

“Before COVID-19, our airport saw approximately 5% growth per year in passengers and as with any growing organization we

have had to make adjustments to meet the influx of new and repeat passengers. Over the last few years, there have been extensive modifications to the airfield with 26 million USD spent on the resurfacing of the taxiway and aprons,” Mr Munroe says. “Skilled craftsmen were recently contracted to undertake a special project to renovate ceiling, lighting, and flooring fixtures located in public and restricted areas throughout the airport. The restrooms received special attention with the introduction of a new design standard that was both aesthetically appealing while remaining practical in its basic function. There is a sense of pride felt by all involved after additional upgrades were successfully made to jet bridges, self-service kiosks and other vital infrastructure at MBJ. The company is relentless in its pursuit of establishing a facility that meets and even surpasses global standards of excellence in all areas.”

“We are quietly involved in other projects which are geared towards the new expansion of structural amenities and the overall enhancement of the passenger experience,” remarked Mr Munroe.

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Similar to other airports, traffic through Sangster has not been as high as hoped for, as a consequence of international events.

“We cannot and should not avoid having a conversation about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on local and international economies. MBJ has not remained unscathed during this very difficult time. There has been a marked reduction in the number of passengers that traverse the airport and as such the traffic rates have been adversely impacted. The economic downfall unfortunately is mirrored in the reports of our stakeholders and other businesses that operate at the airport,” Mr Munroe points out.

MBJ Airport has taken steps to deal with the consequences of the pandemic.

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“We have adjusted our operations to economize in all departments while maintaining the delicate balance between operational costs and the traffic level,” Mr Munroe explains. “The CAPEX investments remain a priority and there is constant communication and teamwork with our stakeholders to ensure that during this crisis MBJ remains a viable enterprise.”

Historically, there is a recurring challenge for airports attempting to modernise or revamp their facilities while still keeping the airport operational.

As with any forward-thinking organization, MBJ has brainstormed innovative ways of using the reduction in traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to improve the Sangster International Airport.

“Some of the aforementioned Capex Projects that would otherwise have been disruptive

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are now made possible because of the downturn in activity, which has allowed for the execution of the Departures Expansion Project, one that is currently in progress,” Mr Munroe says.

An airport is more than runways and check-in terminals and the Sangster International Airport would be unable to function without its talented and experienced staff, almost entirely drawn from the local community.

“Fortunately for MBJ, when the airport was privatised there was an emphasis on the development of local talent.

Jamaicans who have received the highest levels of training are integral members of key departments in the company, with many occupying senior positions,” the CEO tells us.

AN AIRPORT FOR A NEW AGE

Talking with Mr Munroe it’s clear that, beyond the current crisis, he has big plans for Sangster International Airport.

He foresees the airport consolidating its role as a travel hub and tourist experience while adapting to the new status quo.

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“Moving forward, postCOVID-19 we intend to introduce new technologies for the airport to be wellpositioned for the new normal,” MBJ’s CEO says. “COVID-19 will push the digital transformation of the airport business. The passenger experience needs to be as seamless and frictionless as possible, so we’re looking at e-gates, biometric processing and off-site check-in. These technologies will be implemented and upgrades made to our security screening equipment, which would result in increasing the speed with which passengers are processed.

Significant investments are being made currently in our Departures area, where an additional 4,000 square metres of renovation is being undertaken. This modern, more extensive airport will offer better seating, lighting, new exciting retail offerings, all vital to travellers having a memorable experience while enjoying their last moments on the beautiful island of Jamaica.”

At the same time, Mr Munroe is also taking into account potential future issues.

“We are living in unprecedented times, where there is a strong debate on the adverse effects of Climate Change. Our organization has made a conscious effort to be a part of the solution.”

“There is a high level of focus on renewables and reducing our carbon footprint. Consequently, there has been an investment in a solar PV plant. One MW of solar installation will be achieved this year and an additional two MW’s has been projected for next year.

This will offer the dual benefit of a decrease in operational costs from a business standpoint and carbon emissions from an environmental perspective” he says.

“Next year, a multi-milliondollar project is earmarked to extend the runway of the Sangster International Airport by 480 metres bringing it to 3,070 metres in total. This will provide additional safety to the users of that integral area,” says Mr Munroe.

MBJ’s CEO concluded that “MBJ is committed to providing quality service, the improvement of operations and the overall passenger experience.”

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