The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A Cabinet Minister said yesterday that the Nassau Airport Development Company’s (NAD) operator will bring “cutting edge” airport management to Abaco’s primary gateway, and ultimately create more opportunities for Bahamians in aviation management.

Glenys Hanna Martin, minister of transport and aviation, was speaking following the signing of a 4.5-year agreement between the Airport Authority and Vantage Bahamas, the local subsidiary of Vancouver-based Vantage Airport Group.

The company, which has provided executive management services for the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) since 2007, will now also provide technical expertise to the Leonard M. Thompson International Airport in Marsh Harbour.

    “LPIA began the foray for the Bahamas into professional airport management, particularly larger airports, with significant passenger throughput,” Mrs Hanna Martin said.

“Marsh Harbour is a significant airport. It’s been open for a while, but in order to really bring the sort of cutting edge airport management profile that is required in airports that are viable, competitive and, to some extent, self-sustaining you have to bring a singular specialised focus.

“Airport management is a singular specialised area,” she added. “The intent is to bring in technical support so that we can build local professional, technical expertise.

“We’re not transplanting in persons as we did at LPIA initially. People are coming in only to support, strengthen and develop Bahamians in these positions, as well as create new opportunities. We are likely to be engaging personnel to fill niche areas in the airport.”

  Under the contract with Leonard M. Thompson International Airport, technical teams from NAD will be deployed on short and long-term assignments to Marsh Harbour to share best practices and provide guidance to the airport’s management team.  

The Airport Authority will continue to manage day-to-day operations at Leonard M. Thompson International Airport, including maintenance of the 51,000 square foot terminal facility and runway, manage parking facilities and all commercial operations at the airport.

Anthony McKinney, the Airport Authority’s chairman, said: “Through this partnership with Vantage Bahamas we are committing to developing a fully Bahamian team capable of guiding the airport to international operating and service standards.

“We want Abaconians to continue to be proud of their airport. It will serve as a model for future aviation growth in the Family Island sector. We’re pleased to have the backing from NAD, as the team will provide technical support on behalf of Vantage. From a financial perspective, all of this will be done on a cost-recovery basis.”

Vernice Walkine, NAD’s president and chief executive, said: “This is a great opportunity for the NAD team to develop and grow. Bahamian talent will be deployed with the expectation that this transfer of knowledge will enable Leonard M. Thompson International Airport to operate at the same world-class standards that are applied at our airport here in Nassau.

“It’s an excellent environment for career development within our team and speaks to the growth of the industry over the past decade.”

In 2014, the government completed a $30 million upgrade to the Marsh Harbour facilities. The airport was officially renamed in July 2016 after Abaco-native and World War II veteran, Captain Leonard M. Thompson, who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Currently, the airport processes more than 125,000 passengers annually.