KINGSTON, Jamaica — PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL), which operates the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA), has announced that it is waiving all landing and parking fees for non-commercial relief flights bringing cargo and medical personnel into NMIA.

This took effect on Tuesday, October 28.

PACKAL, in an advisory, said the waiver will remain in effect through the duration of relief and recovery operations as Jamaica works to return to normalcy.

Relief supplies eligible for the fee waiver include food items, drinking water, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, shelter materials, hygiene products, fuel for emergency operations, and other items designated by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and relevant government agencies.

“We are in crisis and there is an urgent need to get critical aid and supplies to our fellow Jamaicans,” said Sitara English-Byfield, chief executive officer of PACKAL.

PACKAL said the NMIA is fully operational having started accepting relief flights on Wednesday and commercial flights Friday.

English-Byfield noted that the airport is capable of handling the additional volume of flights and passengers and highlighted that the various airport partners have adjusted their resources to have adequate staffing.

She, however, implored persons to check with their respective airlines for updated flight schedules and to have a confirmed booking before travelling to the airport.

“We understand the anxiety and as the airlines confirm their flights, we are helping to alert passengers by sharing the updates on our social media platforms. We want to reduce the congestion in the check-in hall which will help to speed up processing times. All the airlines have various channels through which passengers may adjust their reservations and get direct support and so, we are encouraging passengers to use those channels where possible,” English-Byfield urged.