Jamaica’s airport network is in for a major upgrade, with more than US$500 million in proposed investments aimed at expanding capacity, enhancing safety, and meeting the country’s growing demand for air travel.
Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz, outlined the Government’s bold vision during the MBJ Airports virtual forum on Wednesday, July 2, noting that airports remain crucial to Jamaica’s development agenda.
“Airports are major contributors and an engine of growth in the national economy, playing a very central role in the travel and tourism industry,” he said. “The airports are by nature very capital-intensive facilities with ongoing expansion and other capital improvement programmes geared towards meeting traffic growth, industrial and regulatory compliance, improving efficiency, and maintaining high quality of customer service.”
Vaz said Jamaica’s airport infrastructure—spanning both government-run and privately operated facilities—is backed by a US$152 million (J$25 billion) capital programme for fiscal year 2025/26, and another US$372 million (J$61 billion) earmarked for the 2026 to 2029 period.
One of the most ambitious projects on the horizon is the development of a new international airport in Little London, Westmoreland.
“The airport location is about 20 minutes away from the Negril seven-mile strip where most of the hotels are. The airport will also serve and expand tourism and economic activity in the western parishes of Jamaica,” Vaz said, adding that the phased development is expected to cost US$460 million and will be pursued as a public-private partnership.
In St. Elizabeth, the Lionel Densham Aerodrome is inching closer to green light status.
“The Lionel Densham Aerodrome… is at a far advanced stage to go to the Public Investment Committee for approval,” Vaz said. “It is expected to provide airlift to south-central St. Elizabeth and surrounding areas, which is expected to drive tourism expansion and economic development in that part of the island.”
Meanwhile, in Portland, consultants are examining the viability of expanding the Ken Jones Aerodrome—or identifying a new site altogether. “This is with a view of providing greater airlift capability for eastern Jamaica, in response to increased tourism development and other plans held by the Government,” Vaz explained.
The Tinson Pen Aerodrome in Kingston is also set for relocation. The Airports Authority of Jamaica is collaborating with the Port Authority and the National Works Agency on a relocation plan to Norman Manley International Airport.
Last month, it was also announced that NMIA will soon get a massive facelift, with PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL) having officially entered the infrastructure phase of its five-year, US$161 million redevelopment plan.
“Consultants engaged by the AAJ are now conducting a study for possible alternative sites for the establishment of an alternative aerodrome for Tinson Pen. We’re hoping to conclude these studies by September 2025,” Vaz said.
While acknowledging the scale of current investments, Vaz stressed that forward planning remains essential. “Even with what we are doing now, by the time we finish that, we would still be behind the eight ball in terms of projecting future airport traffic,” he noted.
