MONTEGO BAY, St James — MBJ Airports Ltd, operator of Sangster International Airport (SIA), is mulling the possibility of establishing an aircraft maintenance facility at the airport, if there is sufficient demand to justify the investment.

“Certainly [it is] something that we’ll implement if the demand is there for it,” assured chief executive officer (CEO) of MBJ Airports Ltd Shane Munroe.

He was responding to a question during a biannual airport forum held virtually on Wednesday.

An aircraft maintenance facility is a specialised workspace dedicated to servicing, inspecting, repairing, and overhauling aircraft to ensure they remain airworthy and safe.

Efforts to obtain further information regarding how aircraft are currently maintained at the airport, as well as the approximate cost of implementing such a facility, were unsuccessful as subsequent calls to Munroe’s phone went unanswered.

However, during the forum, the CEO revealed that this is an initiative that MBJ has “had interest in from time to time”.

He noted that an aircraft maintenance facility requires both the right operator and sustained demand to become a feasible enterprise, and added that there was already one expression of interest.

“We have one interested party now, that we are evaluating, but we’ll certainly match that facility if the demand is there for it at MBJ,” stated Munroe.

“We’d actually invite interested parties who need this type of service to approach us so we can have a good picture of the needs there,” he added.

Wednesday’s forum was aimed at providing stakeholders and the general public with updates on airport initiatives, achievements, and major projects at SIA.

During the session, Munroe reiterated several ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects. One of these is the current US$40-million upgrading being done. There is also a US$180-million capital infrastructure investment that includes the replacement of old baggage screening equipment, upgrading the baggage claim area, refurbishing the customs hall, continued rehabilitation of the airside pavement, replacement of common-use passenger processing equipment, and the continued push into self-service and biometric technologies.

The introduction of automated screening lanes, provision of additional fire trucks for the airport fire station, continued upgrades to the HVAC system and expansion of the departures plaza and canopy as well as the promenade area are also on the project list that is expected to run over the next five years up to 2030.

During the forum, attendees were also reminded that SIA currently holds the prestigious World Travel Awards title of Caribbean’s Leading Airport, an accolade it has won for 17 consecutive years, and Munroe was recently awarded the distinction of Accredited Airport Executive (AAE) by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).

“With this, Mr Monroe now joins a select group of individuals who have earned this designation. We commend Mr Monroe on this truly distinguished achievement, and this is a testament to his leadership and vision,” stated Manager, Commercial Business Development & Marketing Sharon Hislop-Holt.