Norman Manley International Airport (KIN/MKJP), Kingston, Jamaica

Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) is the major gateway linking Jamaica's capital city to destinations worldwide. It is located on 228ha of the Palisadoes peninsula in south-east Jamaica, in close proximity to the historical site of Port Royal, and is approximately 30 minutes away from the main business district of New Kingston.

Because of its convenient position the airport is a major business passenger carrier and is also responsible for a major portion of the aircargo entering Jamaica from abroad. Norman Manley International Airports Limited (NMIAL), the operator, manages and controls the operations of the airport under a licence from the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JAA). The airport handled 1.6 million travellers in 2005 and expects 1.9 million passengers by 2013 and 2.5 million by the year 2022.

AIRPORT REDEVELOPMENT 1999–2003

The airport has undergone several refurbishment projects since 1999, including the resurfacing of the runway (2.8km) in 2001, the reconstruction of the eight taxiways (40ac) in 2002 and the replacement of the airport apron and also the replacement of the underground fuel hydrant system (1999).

In addition the airfield lighting system was refurbished. Landside improvements at the airport have included the upgrading and rehabilitation of the national air traffic control and navigational equipment at four of the sites operated by the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority across the island; and also the installation of a new sewage treatment plant and incinerator to enhance solid waste disposal. All these projects cost $59m and were completed by 2003.

TERMINAL BUILDING

As part of the 1999 to 2003 refurbishment project substantial upgrading of the terminal building and associated facilities were carried out.

Improvements were made to the customs hall in the form of a new 70t air-handling unit, along with associated ductwork and housing. In addtion there was an extension and renovation of the existing departure / transit lounge; upgrading of the departure / ticketing concourse (550m²); reconfiguration of the customs exit and ground transportation arcade; construction of remote parking facilities; and redesign and expansion of existing roads, car park and landscaped areas surrounding the terminal.

As part of the project a cargo village (phase 1) was also built to improve cargo operations; this took the form of a 30,000ft² facility with associated electrical, mechanical and car park facilities and was delivered by the end of 2005.

In 1999, The Airports Authority of Jamaica engaged the joint venture of EDM-Cansult to design and upgrade the facilities of the airport. The project was financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and the government of Japan.

AIRPORT REDEVELOPMENT 2003–2006

The Airports Authority of Jamaica is now in the midst of a new project to rehabilitate the airport terminal at Norman Manley (as an arrival terminal) and also to build a new departure terminal (with a winged design).

The project consists of the design, construction and commissioning of a new passenger departure terminal and an upgraded arrival terminal, with supporting airside and landside infrastructure. It includes consulting engineering and architectural services and project management.

NEW TERMINAL BUILDING

The new terminal building will have a three-level departures concourse of approximately 170,000ft² (10,000m²) and will be integrated with the existing ticketing concourse. New terminal facilities will include baggage handling systems, flight-information systems and concession spaces.

The new and redeveloped ticketing area will accommodate 54 check-in desks, and a Common Use Terminal System (CUTE) will be introduced to support the airlines.

Boyken International Inc is providing cost management services during the programming, planning and design phases. Sypher Mueller International (J$3.2m contract) are the planning consultants for the new airport and Llewelyn-Davies Joint Venture are the architects.

Kier Construction Ltd, part of the Kier Group, has secured the £28.8m contract to construct the new terminal building.

The Kier contract also involves the addition of a second level to the existing passenger pier, which allows passengers access from the terminal to the aircraft plus limited renovation works to the existing terminal building, reconfiguration of the customs hall to ensure more efficient passenger movement and the creation of the cargo village to facilitate improved cargo handling operations (first phase completed in 2005).

Auto Solutions Limited has been awarded the contract, valued at $41.2m, for the repair and service of airport vehicles.

EXISTING TERMINAL RENOVATION

The contract relating to additions and alterations to the departure concourse has been awarded to Cooper and Associates Limited and is valued at $161.5m. The work will include construction of a new canopy, north of the existing check-in concourse and departure lounge; construction of an additional drop-off pavement area and provision for access by wheelchair passengers; new elevators, electrical air conditioning, public address, fire detection and fire fighting services; and alterations to the existing check-in concourse and mezzanine level to include a new security post and postal agency.

The architect / engineer for the designs are Harold Morrison and Associates, in conjunction with Peter Jervis and Associates Limited and Grace Ashley and Associates.

MASTERPLAN

The project seeks to increase the airport's capacity to cater for projected air and passenger traffic at an acceptable level of service to the year 2033. The project is part of a 15-year masterplan which will be implemented in three phases (1A, 1B and 2) and will cost about $130m. By 2022 it will have involved a virtual reconstruction of the entire airport.

Construction started in June 2006; the intention is for the first phase – which is supposed to make the airport an IATA category C airport – to be completed by 2007. The airport needs to be ready in time for the Cricket World Cup (2007). The European Investment Bank is providing $40m (2006) project and the Caribbean Development Bank has approved a loan of $11m (June 2006) for the new project.

PHASE 1A

Phase 1A commenced planning in 2004 and is scheduled to be completed in 2007, at an estimated cost of $80m (ground-breaking took place in September 2006). This phase comprises a new departures building at the eastern end of the present terminal to accommodate expansion to the present departure concourse, security screening station with space to accommodate explosives detection equipment, out-going immigration, retail concessions and departure lounge.

Additionally a new multi-level passenger finger (pier) that will enable the separation of arriving and departing passengers, as required by security regulations, will be included.

• Four passenger loading bridges at the new finger (pier)
• Upgraded roadway system and expanded public car park
• Major rehabilitation of the existing departures concourse and related underground services infrastructure
• Major rehabilitation and upgrading of the terminal arrivals area, including immigration hall, customs hall, arrivals arcade, arrivals duty free shops and offices
• Replacement and upgrading of airport systems – public address, access control, flight information, baggage information, security control and other airport IT systems
• Cargo warehouse complex (the first phase of this complex, called the NMIA cargo and logistics centre, was completed in 2005)

PHASE 1B

Phase 1B is scheduled for the period 2008–2012 and will cost approximately $23m. Works under this phase will include:

• Further upgrading of existing buildings
• Construction of a new arrivals area
• Installation of new baggage handling facilities
• Relocation of the General Aviation Centre, the fire station and other support facilities
• Airside works including the expansion of aircraft parking stands
• Extension of the cargo and maintenance taxiway

PHASE 2

Phase 2, which is the final phase of the project, is to commence in 2013 and end in 2022. This phase will involve additional improvement and maintenance works to the terminal, landside, airfield and support areas of the facility at a cost of $9m.