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Sangster Airport
Airport Directory » Jamaica » Montego Bay » Sangster AirportCoordinates: 18°30′13″N 077°54′48″W / 18.50361°N 77.91333°W / 18.50361; -77.91333
Sir Donald Sangster International Airport (IATA: MBJ, ICAO: MKJS) is an international airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It is 1 of the biggest, busiest and most ultra-modern airports in the Caribbean capable of care 9 million riders annual; that is three clips the size of it of the Jamaican population. Sangster is frequently bring up to as the gateway to the Caribbean, and is the Caribbean hub for many air hose. It assists as the most popular airport for holidaymakers seeing the northward seashore of Jamaica. MBJ is now the busier of Jamaica's 2 independent airports, the other being Norman Manley International Airport turn up in the capital town of Kingston. The airport is named after Jamaican Prime Minister Sir Donald Sangster.
History
The Sir Donald Sangster International Airport or Sangster International Airport for short, in Montego Bay, St. James, has do eminent paces over the yr taking it to tallnesses comparable with anybody international airport globally. However, the development of the airport did not take place overnight, but was 1st conceptualized in 1936 when the location currently housing the Sangster International Airport was placed as 1 suitable for the building of an airport in the city of Montego Bay. Originally named the Montego Bay Airport, a determination was do to make the landing track in 1940, and the existent building of the installation was finished on February 18, 1947. At the clip of its pass completion, the city of Montego Bay was more like a resort area for the rich person and famous, and was see then, 1 of the prime minister resort area within the Caribbean, merely as it is currently.
The 1st international air hose to wing into the Montego Bay Airport was Pan American Airways, and in fact, the airport, which in comparing to currently's criterion, was more like a little airport, was functioned by Pan American until September 30, 1949, when the Jamaican Government take control of the installation. However, the Sangster International Airport, as we know it currently, was nothing like it was in the early solar days. One of the most noticeable differences was that ab initio, the depot construction was on the northern side of the landing track but was switched to the southern side of the landing track during 1 of the several upgrading exercises that took location at that installation, which was needed by the growing in air traffic over the yr. Plans for the building of a new depot at its present place, on the southern side of the landing track, was denoted in July 1955. the architectural plans for the new depot construction was division of what prove to be a elongated upgrading and reconstituting of the installation, to enable it to cope with the growing in traffic. The new depot was made and opened on July 7, 1959, with a capacity to adapt 500 riders per 60 minute, and parkland for 7 aircraft at a clip. Over the yr, the upgrading function was a uninterrupted 1, finally the installation had turned into the bigger of the 2 international airports in Jamaica, deal about 3.7 million riders per annum in 2007,and have seen and increase in rider and aircraft motility since the start out of 2008.They are now seeking to increase the figure of riders from Asia, and are working with Brazil to have non-stop service from there.
As of 2000, programmes have been put to death to spread out the airport to the position of a world category airport. A new concourse was finished in December 2005 to let big commercial aircraft such as the Airbus A340, Boeing 747-400 and maybe the Airbus A380. Also a be after enlargement of the independent landing track is now in the readying stage, which will, when finished, afford the airport a full operating 10,000 foot. Landing track to adapt big aircraft traffic. MBJ Airports Limited also commissioned a new usages hallway, reaches hall and transit centre in March 2007. Since then further enlargement and redevelopment labors such as the resettlement of the in-migration hallway and duty free shop shopping mall has been established and it is anticipated to be finished by October 2008. When complete the installation shall be 1 of the Caribbean's most modern airports, and will have increased the deal capacity to 9 million riders per annum.
Recently there was a modify in direction at the airport coming after the modify in the pool that functions this installation. Relations between the new direction and Unions have been hard with a strike in November 2007.
MBJ Airports Ltd
Sangster is run by a syndicate named MBJ Airports Limited. Leading better half of the pool is Vancouver Airport Services (25% adventure). Another better half is Abertis. Sangster was privatised and turned over by Airports Authority of Jamaica to the pool in 2003.
Original article.