Sangster airport waives landing and parking fees for relief flights

MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ), the operator of Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, says it has waived all landing and parking fees for non-commercial relief flights bringing cargo and medical personnel as part of Hurricane Melissa response.

The waiver took effect on October 30, the same day the airport opened for relief flights.

Sangster resumed limited commercial flight operations on Saturday.

MBJ says the waiver will remain in effect through the duration of relief and recovery operations as Jamaica works to return to normalcy.

Relief supplies eligible for the fee waiver include food items, drinking water, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, shelter materials, hygiene products, fuel for emergency operations, and other items designated by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and relevant government agencies.

“The situation is critical, and immediate action is required to deliver much-needed aid and supplies to affected Jamaicans,” said MBJ CEO Shane Munroe.

With the scaled resumption of limited commercial flight operations, MBJ says it is expecting high passenger volumes as tourists who were unable to travel before the hurricane try to return home.

MBJ says it has worked closely with its various airline partners, who have adjusted their resources to efficiently process passengers as quickly as possible.

Munroe is appealing to travellers to first verify flight details with their airlines and ensure they have confirmed bookings before coming to the airport.

“We know this is a stressful time, and as airlines confirm their schedules, we’re sharing those updates on our social media platforms so passengers can plan accordingly,” he said.

“There are a lot of people who will be trying to get on the earliest flight available to their destination and we want to reduce the congestion as much as possible. So, we’re urging passengers to use the various customer support and online tools from the airlines to make any necessary changes to their travel plans, which help us to quickly get them through the departure process at the airport.”

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