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- BEEF ISLAND AIRPORT EXPANDS TO ACCOMMODATE NEW AIRLINES
-
- Work was expected to begin at the Beef Island Airport this week to
expand the existing terminal building and apron facilities to cope with
the anticipated increase in aircraft and passenger traffic in the months
ahead, it was reported here Tuesday.
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- Two new airlines have been granted permission to fly into and out of
the British Virgin Islands. They are Cape Air, which should start daily
flights here December 9th and Gulf Stream, a subsidiary of Continental
Airlines, which should begin operations in February, 2000, Director of
Civil Aviation Milton Creque told The Island Sun.
- "In September, the Department of Civil Aviation informed the government
of the need to provide additional accommodation for the expected increase
in both aircraft and passenger traffic at the Beef Island Airport. We have,
to date, been able to produce a proposed plan for the expansion of the
existing terminal. The work would involve light construction but would
nevertheless be adequate for the short time that the terminal is expected
- to be operational; in other words, it would give us time to develop
the new terminal building facilities," he stated.
- A local Contractor will carry out the works under the supervision of
the Public Works Department. "The main areas of expansion will be
the departure and arrival areas and the auxiliary services that facilitate
those areas, like Customs, Immigration, baggage holding areas, bathroom
facilities for incoming passengers etc., to meet international standards,"
said Acting PWD Director Richard C. de Castro. He said the addition to
the apron
- is to accommodate the additional planes which may have to overnight
at Beef Island.
-
- The Director of Civil Aviation said the expansion would also provide
for new mail facilities. He said with the new parking space, commercial
operators can use the existing facilities and private light aircraft would
be parked in an area that would not be used by commercial traffic. He said
this would reduce congestion on the apron.
-
- "Because of certain delays we are behind time, but we do anticipate
that much, if not all of the work, should be
- completed by sometime during the course of January," Mr. Creque
said.
-
- With the proposed expansion at the Beef Island Airport, there would
be additional counter and office space for the Continental Airline company.
"So, all in all, we do believe that we'll be in a position to cope
with the anticipated increase in passenger and aircraft traffic during
the first few months in the year 2000."
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- The Civil Aviation Director said this project will not interfere with
the operation of the airport as it will be phased in such a manner as to
permit the construction to be carried out both at night and during the
course of the day. The bigger airport development project is expected to
commence early in the new year, 2000.
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