Plans For Permanent Work To Be Commissioned in Two Years

Much-needed expansion work has gotten underway at the Crown Point International Airport in Tobago.

Measures for a temporary expansion have begun while permanent plans for terminal expansion are expected to be commissioned in the next couple of years, according to the Trinidad and Tobago Express.

"Crown Point International Airport was built to accommodate about 250 arrivals at a time," THA Tourism Secretary Neil Wilson said.

"Between 2001 to now we have a number of wide-bodied airplanes which land on the runway which brings the arrivals to over 800. On the island today there are well over 5,000 seats a week but we've done very little in terms of expansion," he said.

The temporary expansion plan calls for an extension of the international arrival facilities that will provide additional space at Customs and Immigration. The relocation of domestic arrivals and departure is already underway.

"Facilities for outgoing and incoming flights will be installed in the same area. We are also going to remove the outgoing accommodation area and expand the international arrivals," Wilson said.

"We are now in the process of extending the terminal west of the existing structure to allow for the expansion of the international section of the building."

The tarmac was also recently expanded to accommodate two wide-bodied aircraft simultaneously.

"We feel confident that we can accommodate wide-bodied departures. We are not yet confident that we have solved the arriving passenger plight but we have relieved the congestion," Wilson said.

"Hopefully in the next two years we will get the new spanking airport that we need."

Expansion plans have even taken into account the baggage area.

"We have ordered a conveyor belt which provides three to four times the capacity of the existing one for baggage," Wilson said.

"It is expected that soon after these works are completed, the permanent construction of the expanded terminal building and its ancillary facilities will begin."

The project is expected to cost $5 million and construction is due to be completed before the 2007 winter season.

FMI: www.crownpointairport.com