Alessandro Boyd, Gleaner Writer
As the Ian Fleming International Airport (IFIA) celebrated its second anniversary last week, the management has expressed delight at the growth experienced over the period. However, they concede that there is much room for improvement.
The airport that is situated in Boscobel, St Mary, can accommodate at least six international aircraft with a maximum wingspan of 55 feet and a maximum length of 65 feet, as well as three small aircraft all at the same time.
Alfred McDonald, senior director of commercial development and planning at the Airports Authority of Jamaica, has stated that traffic performance fell below the levels recorded in the previous year; however, a major initiative that they project will enable a significant up-tick in the use of IFIA by general aviation aircraft is near completion.
The number of aircraft arrivals at the IFIA has decreased in 2012 as the total number of arrivals was 1,515 compared to 1,569 in 2011.
“The work currently being done is to complete and commission a fuel-farm facility to ensure the supply of jet A1 fuel (which is currently available from a fuel bowser) and Avgas (which is not now readily available). The AAJ has continued it marketing efforts to attract additional traffic to the airport and increased promotion will be done on completion of the fuel farm,” Mcdonald told