The Tribune

Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) is predicting that passenger numbers will grow by 2.4 per cent for the year to end-June 2016, as it moves to increase bridge capacity for US carriers by 50 per cent.

LPIA's projected performance and plans for 2016 were disclosed by Vernice Walkine, chief executive of its operator, Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), to Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) members at the latter's recent annual general meeting (AGM).

Ms Walkine's presentation, a copy of which has been obtained by Tribune Business, forecasts that the Bahamas' main international gateway will experience a 3.6 per cent increase in total passenger numbers for the 12 months to end-June 2016.

These projections do not include any Baha Mar impact, and follow 2.5 per cent year-over-year growth in US passengers for the 12 months to end-June 2015.

"We have conservatively forecasted US passenger growth of 3.6 per cent, and 2.4 per cent overall passenger growth, for the airport for the 2016 fiscal period (July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016)," Ms Walkine's presentation read. "These projections do not include Baha Mar."

To accommodate peak tourism season demand, NAD is increasing its bridge capacity by 50 per cent to ensure a smooth plane exit for disembarking US passengers.

"For this winter, LPIA will increase is apron drive bridge capacity for US carriers by 50 per cent with the addition of a new Apron Drive Bridge (ADB) to the US Departures Pier in December 2015, and subsequent use of two additional swing gates with ADBs for US carriers that are currently only used for international (non-US flights)," Ms Walkine's presentation read.

LPIA is currently operating at two-thirds capacity, as it has the ability to handle five million passengers annually but is presently dealing with 3.3 million.

Ms Walkine, meanwhile, said NAD's installation of automated passport control (APC) machines had reduced US Customs and Immigration processing times by 50 per cent.

"This supports our airline partners in their efforts to quickly turn around flights, and it allows passengers more dwell time and relaxation in-terminal before their flight," she said.

"LPIA installed 20 APC kiosks, the largest installation of kiosks in the Caribbean region to-date. Our machine data shows that it takes an average of 120 seconds to process a passenger using APC as opposed to 11 minutes for the usual US Customs process."

Ms Walkine's presentation said some 581,730 travellers had been processed via the APC kiosks since their installation.

NAD is continuing to focus on the use of technology to improve the customer experience, with three main projects set for implementation in 2016.

Ms Walkine's presentation said the airport "will have electronic boarding pass capability" for winter 2016, something that will improve passenger flow and experience, plus airline efficiency.

"Bahamas Immigration will introduce new border processing software and kiosks via Canadian Bank Note to improve processing time upon arrival in the Bahamas," she said.

"The software. along with seven self-service kiosks for frequent travellers, is scheduled for deployment in summer 2016.

"Finally, Bahamas Customs will institute an electronic signage system for flights that will improve way finding for passengers through the Customs process. This is slated for late 2015."

Ms Walkine's presentation said LPIA had seen quarterly improvements in 30 of the 36 areas where it is rated for customer service.

Arguing that this showed NAD was "on the right track", she said of the Airports Council International (ACI) surveys: "Our survey results for the first two quarters of 2015 ranked us fourth in the Latin America and Caribbean region for overall passenger satisfaction, and in the top 12 airports measured globally by ACI in our size category."