The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The new $83.5 million terminal, which marks the final stage of Lynden Pindling International Airport’s (LPIA) redevelopment, will serve as the “connecting hub” for access to the Caribbean, the Nassau Airport Development Company’s chief executive has confirmed.

Vernice Walkine said the new facility had the capacity to accommodate 50 per cent more passenger traffic.

“Now that we have completed the construction stage of this redevelopment, the real work begins - ensuring that passengers utilising our facilities have experiences at LPIA that are as amazing as the physical buildings they are moving through,” said Ms Walkine at a ceremony to mark the opening of the new 105,000 square foot domestic and international arrivals and departures terminal.

This facility is the final phase of a $409.5 million transformation of LPIA. The new facility will allow local carriers to operate out of the same terminal as British Airways and Air Canada.

“We also propose that this terminal will serve as the connecting hub for access to the islands of the Caribbean,” said Ms Walkine.

Prime Minister Perry Christie said the Government was moving towards a new era, both for Bahamasair and the nation’s tourism sector.

Mr Christie said. “We must move to ensure that Bahamasair is able to match, and really give the country what it deserves, that is helping to pioneer markets and going into new markets.

“It must do more to justify being a national airline, and there must be a public-private partnership going forward. I am now turning my attention specifically to Bahamasair and to the way in which the Bahamas is promoted, the way in which millions are spent promoting the Bahamas, because we want to be able to maximise on the amount of money we spend.”