JAMAICA | Mikael Phillips concerned over Safety of Sangster International Airport

Kingston, Jamaica. August 26, 2024: The Shadow Minister of Transport and Mining, Mikael Phillips, is concerned over the recent closure of the main runway at Sangster International Airport (SIA), noting that this is the second airport closure this year due to safety reasons.

The Opposition spokesman is urging the Minister of Transport, Daryl Vaz, to take swift and decisive measures to address these issues and restore confidence in the safety of our airports.

In a statement today, Mr. Phillips said the government, through the Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA), has oversight responsibility for the aviation industry, of which the SIA, being the International Airport with the highest throughput of passengers, is the most important player.

He reminded that the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) was shuttered earlier this year due to a failure of runway landing lights, and now, SIA’s recent runway closure due to the failure of a significant section has raised new concerns.

The Shadow Minister noted that the runway failure raises questions about the JCAA’s inspections of the runway and adherence to strict protocols, which are paramount to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules for airport safety oversight and the airport’s rating.

He emphasised that the SIA runway was recently extended and resurfaced, and it must be explained why the failed section was not addressed and whether it had completed its life cycle.

“Assurances to the travelling public are now needed even ahead of the JCAA report, which I understand the Minister has sought,” Mr. Phillips said. 

He also noted that the number of passengers still stranded in Montego Bay should be disclosed, especially in light of the recent concerns about falling tourism numbers raised by the President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) last week.

The PNP spokesman emphasised that, given the current situation, the Minister, the JCAA, the Airports Authority of Jamaica, and the airport concessionaire, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, must urgently address operational and maintenance issues at SIA, a critical part of government infrastructure for international travel.

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