Creditable Performance by Airports Authority Despite Economic Crisis

Despite the challenges associated with the global economic downturn, the Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) is reported to have performed “creditably” during the first nine months of the 2008/09 fiscal year.
This is according to a brief provided to journalists by the Minister of Information, Culture, Youth, and Sports, Olivia Grange during Wednesday’s (Feb. 11) post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House, which highlighted the AAJ’s performance between April and December 2008.
According to the document, the world economic crisis, emerging between July and December 2008, resulted in a decline in passenger traffic at both the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston, and the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, and a corresponding loss of revenue at both entities and, by extension, the AAJ.
“At NMIA, total passenger traffic for the year to date, fell by 3.28 per cent below budget, and 2.65 per cent below the previous year, with the largest fall of 14 per cent, taking place in November, followed by nine per cent in December,” the brief said, noting that the situation was much more grave at Sangster, with traffic falling by 10 per cent below budget, and eight per cent below the previous year, with December showing the largest drop of 25 per cent, followed by November at 20 per cent.
In spite of these challenges, the report stated, the AAJ continues to operate profitably, with the entity’s performance underpinned by that of MBJ Airports Limited, which operates the Sangster Airport; NMIA Airports Limited, which operates the Norman Manley Airport, and the four aerodromes operated directly by the AAJ. The aerodromes are located in Negril, Westmoreland; Boscobel, St. Mary; Tinson Pen, Kingston; and the Ken Jones Aerodrome in Portland.