The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

ABACO businesses yesterday said they were “thrilled” at the opening of the new Marsh Harbour airport, one noting that the new terminal would likely facilitate more direct flights and create greater economic benefits.

Percy Pinder, owner of the Sand Dollar Shoppe in Marsh Harbour, told Tribune Business: “In my opinion the airport is going to bring a lot more flights to Abaco over the next year. Hopefully there will be a lot more direct flights from the US and Europe as well.

“I also think that this is going to bring down the cost of airlift because we will have more flights coming in. Abaco has the most flights coming in second only to Nassau. Having more direct flights for visitors to get here is going to be a great economic benefit to the island. It’s opening in May. We’re not happy that it’s opening late, but we’re happy that it’s opening.”

The multi-million dollar airport, which was initially expected to open in October 2012, did so yesterday, with an official opening ceremony planned for today.

The Ingraham administration broke ground for the Leonard M Thompson International Airport in September 2011. At that time it was estimated it would take 10 months to complete the facility. Later, it was determined that the airport would not be fully operational until July 2013, but that date was abandoned and December 2013 was then eyed as the official deadline.

The minister of transport and aviation, Glenys Hanna-Martin, predicted that Abaconians would see the airport open in January 2014. She then told The Tribune last month that officials had set their sights on the end of April 2014.

Deputy prime minister and minister of works, Philip Davis, last month told reporters that although most of the work at the airport was complete, the facility was not scheduled to open until May.

The initial budget for the airport was $27 million, but the Christie administration in December 2012 said an additional $11.9 million would be needed to ensure it was fully functional. With that, the total cost of the airport reaches nearly $40 million.

Included in the estimate was an additional $6 million to extend the runway, $3.8 million to build a freight building, $230,000 for that building’s architectural fees and $1.9 million in other architectural fees.

Molly McIntosh, assistant general manager with responsibility for sales at Abaco’s Green Turtle Club, told Tribune Business of this week’s opening: “We are thrilled that it is open. I am sure that, as with any new place of business opening, there will be a few glitches but I am confident that all will be worked out.

“This is a positive event for Abaco, no matter how you look at it. It will be a huge improvement on the first and last impression that our visitors receive. I would imagine that all of the people working at the airlines and for the airport, as well as taxi drivers and vendors, are going to be so proud and happy that will also come across well to the tourists and, hopefully, tourists will tell other people and you know that old word of mouth, it works very well with the positive vibe, too.”

Ms McIntosh now hopes the summer season will be “even better than ever”, and that with good business and demand for seats, more airlines might come in or existing airlines will increase airlift.

Timothy Roberts, of the Abaconian newspaper, said: “As far as the airport being open, it’s something that many Abaconians have been waiting for for a very long time.

“It was in the FNM’s agenda in 1992 that there would be a new terminal building. It had been put off for many years, and it was something that Abaco really needed given the island’s growth and tourism product.

“I believe that the people of Abaco are relieved to finally have a terminal that they can be proud of. The old one has outlived is usefulness and has been an eyesore. We are already a popular destination, and this new terminal should allow us to facilitate a greater capacity of visitors. This means a great deal for the Abaco economy.”