Jamaica Montego Bay Airport
News

Jamaica’s Montego Bay Airport Is Getting Major Upgrades

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - February 26, 2023

The Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica is in the midst of a full-scale modernization project. 

The plan, officials say, is to transform the busy airport into a “world-class facility.”

That includes a $70 million runway expansion, the opening of the first-ever Bob Marley-branded restaurant, the expansion of the immigration hall and departure lounge and the upgrade of outbound security. 

It follows an already-completed revamp of the airport’s duty free offering.

“When the dust is settled on all of these projects, we are talking about [comparisons with] Heathrow, Atlanta, JFK, Qatar, Dubai… you name the airport,” says Delano Seiveright, senior strategist and advisor in the Ministry of Tourism. “When guests fly [into Jamaica] from wherever they are coming, there will be that ‘wow’ factor. MBJ Airports Limited must be commended for the tireless work and the vision to make this possible. That Bob Marley One Love restaurant and the runway extension will be something else.”

Jamaica is seeing sizzling tourism numbers this year, as Montego Bay hopes to eclipse the record 4.7 million passengers that used the airport back in 2019, before the pandemic. 

“There are other works being undertaken to modernize the Sangster International Airport and provide a seamless experience for passengers,” said Shane Munroe, chief executive officer of the airport.

Another project will see the construction of a lounge for air-to-sea cruise passengers, providing a dedicated arrivals space for landing and then a coach transfer to the cruise ship pier. 

The runway expansion project is on schedule for completion by June of this year, Munroe said. 

Sangster Airport is also getting greener, with the installation of an MWac solar plant that has reduced the airport’s reliance on the national grid by 11 percent. 

Even better? There are also plans for new biometric projects. 

That would mean “passengers can check in off-site, tag their bags, and use their identity to pass through checkpoints seamlessly and efficiently,” said Sharon Hislop-Holt, commercial business development and marketing manager at the airport. “The goal is that passengers spend the least possible amount of time in queues so that they can enjoy our facilities with the least stress possible.”

Popular Posts w punta cana

A New All-Inclusive W Hotel Is Opening This Year in Punta Cana 

The first-ever all-inclusive W Hotel in the Caribbean is opening this year in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The hotel, part of a broad expansion for parent company Marriott International, is on the list of expected 2024 […]


Why Grenada Is a New Caribbean Luxury Hotspot

beach house silversands

From its world-renowned chocolate to its pristine beaches to a region-leading focus on sustainability, Grenada is as fascinating and unique as destination as you’ll find in the Caribbean.  But in the last few years, the lush Eastern Caribberan island has […]


5 Adults-Only Resorts to Visit Right Now in the Caribbean 

galley bay

Sometimes you just want that extra degree of serenity, of privacy, of seclusion. There is a reason, after all, that adults-only resorts are booming in popularity, particularly in the Caribbean: travelers want to know that when they arrive, they know […]


Related Posts all-inclusive resort antigua

Why This Antigua All-Inclusive Is the Ultimate Toes-in-the-Sand Resort 

You know the sounds: the gentle lap of the waves, the light shake of a palm tree; the rustle of a palapa. We all feel that connection to the beach. We’re all drawn by its siren sound, that maritime metronome that […]


From the US Virgin Islands to Aruba, Caribbean Travel Is Booming

aruba usvi beach

First there was the breakout after restrictions were lifted. Then there was all that pent-up travel demand. Through each phase of the post-pandemic period, travelers have continued flocking to the Caribbean.  It’s the sign of a resilient global destination, and […]


Frontier Is Adding a New Nonstop Flight to Los Cabos 

nobu los cabos

It’s one of the most popular hotel destinations in Mexico: Los Cabos, which has seen a broad boom in recent years with the entry to market of brands like Nobu, Thompson, Marriott and Waldorf Astoria, among others.  That has led, […]


SUBSCRIBE!

Sign up for Caribbean Journal's free newsletter for a daily dose of beaches, hotels, rum and the best Caribbean travel information on the net.


No. Thank You