Stakeholders scramble to restore operations at Sangster International following runway closure

 

Stakeholders are scrambling to restore operations at the Sangster International Airport after the runway became inoperable.

 

At least seven flights were diverted to Norman Manley International Airport due to the closure of the runway.

 

Scores of other passengers have been left stranded as there have been no flights out of the Montego Bay airport since the issue developed.

 

Delano Seiveright, Senior Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, said problem with the runway developed during the extension project:

 

"So that the extension of the Runway project is continuing in earnest, but there was a major difficulty that developed over the last few hours. "We're told that the Airport's Authority of Jamaica, MBJ Airports Limited, and the contractor are working feverishly to address the problem. The problem now is that the runway is essentially inoperable and we are waiting on updates in the next two to three hours from the authorities," he said. 

 

Members of the sales team of the Jamaica Tourist Board in Montego Bay have been deployed to Sangster International to assist with the management of stranded passengers.

 

Tour buses and personnel have been deployed to Kingston to manage the movement of their passengers. 

 

Robin Russell, President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), said stakeholders are scrambling to minimise the fall out. 

 

"We're still trying to get the information as to how long the airport will be down so that we can make arrangements.... So far, it's very touch and go because we're not sure what exactly is the extent of the shutdown. We haven't gotten any details as to whether there will be cancellations or just delays," he noted.

 

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said the authorities are working to have the airport reopened by 1:30 p.m.