Jetways not on airport authority priority list
(CNS): The installation of jetways was cited as a priority by passengers during the recent public consultations on the Cayman Islands Airports Authority’s $800 million 20-year masterplan, but they are not on the official priority list. The CIAA recently announced that it would be spending over $74 million on a private jet terminal, and extending the runway and upgrading air traffic control at the Owen Robert International Airport (ORIA). But there is no budget for sheltering regular passengers from the rain.
During a press conference last month, Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan said jetways are a component of the CIAA’s bigger masterplan, but the authority was doing the projects it could afford first. He said a decision had been made to focus on the runway and the general aviation terminal, claiming that these two upgrades would increase revenue for the airport.
CIAA Senior Project Manager Roy Williams said that while jetways are included in the expansion plan for the existing terminal, this would need to go up another level before jetways could be installed. He explained that in the next redevelopment of the terminal, the current security problem of arriving and departing passengers mixing would be addressed by the additional level as well.
Airport users have criticised the lack of covered areas for arriving and departing passengers ever since the original modernisation plan, which was completed in 2019, was proposed. At every public meeting during the recent consultation, people spoke about the need for jetways at ORIA, where passengers currently rely on airport staff and large umbrellas if it’s raining when they arrive or depart.
Bryan said the government doesn’t have the budget to include them yet. Instead, a decision has been made to spend around $29 million on lengthening the runway, even though there are no commitments at this point from European or other long-haul airlines. The airport also plans to spend a whopping $42 million on a new general aviation terminal for private jets, plus a much smaller amount on upgrading air traffic control to meet international regulatory requirements.
Cabinet recently approved outline business cases for those projects as well as work to improve the runway and apron at the Charles Kirkconnell Airport on Cayman Brac, all of which will be paid for by a $20 increase in passenger fees.
Bryan said a longer runway would see larger aircraft landing here, attracting long-haul flights and more passengers. He also said that expanding the general aviation facility would see more private jets flying in, though he did not explain why building an entirely new terminal was necessary rather than a less costly upgrade.
The minister was nevertheless emphatic that revenue would increase, putting the airport in a financial position to pay for the other things in the plan, such as jetways and more airport parking — another popular demand.
Passenger numbers at Owen Roberts are expected to grow by around 1.9% every year, based on pre-COVID levels of around 500,000 annual passengers.
See the press conference in full on CIGTV and some draft details from the proposed plan for the airports below:
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Category: development, Local News
Instead of the tax payers who will most likely never use this private terminal paying for it why don’t you do the following? Charge 1% property tax on persons who own more then 2 million dollars in property?
should put top covers on the walk up ramps to the planes. That the place That the passengers moves slowly getting in to planes, causing the most getting wet.
Think if you have a private jet your property in Cayman is likely to be worth a tad more than $2m. And what about those that fly in and don’t own property? How about the simple solution – charge those that use the private terminal landing fees that will recover the cost? The reason the minister doesn’t suggest that is he knows fine well that the number of private jet flights would never ever recover $42m unless the landing fees were so high that they would deter even billionaires. Struggle to even cover the interest. You would need thousands of flights a year. Basic math. Better question is why do you need to spend $42 million on a private terminal for a handful of people.
why? jus-just why?
Why construct a terminal specifically for private Jets? If the runway is proposed to be extended to have long haul flights to Europe, wouldn’t it make more sense to have a new terminal for commercial flights rather than for private Jets? That would be more convenient plus the current terminal would be packed and have a bad reputation. In regards to jetways, I had to wait on the plane when I arrived from vacation a few weeks ago and had to sit in the plane for half an hour just for the rain to calm down. I want to know what went through the heads of the people who designed the current state of the airport, it such a fail at trying to modernize it. Sure it may look more modern yet we can’t even get off the plane comfortably at times due to rain.
Ok. But this week Government announced that they have TWO condos at Grape Tree condominiums from a defunct company and they are putting them on auction.
Why?? Use these for CAL staff or any other local or official CIG housing.
Every week there are layover pilots and flight crew, consultants and special guests, or new expat recruits being transitioned to housing.
Please KEEP these two condos for our own use.
Or
Would The Governor take both?!
It’s always amazing to see how many aviation and airport construction experts we have in Cayman. Why aren’t we exporting this around the world?
Because the airport authority are aviation experts? hey cant even get the car park payment system to work.
It’s funny how I hear people complaining about jetways. Every time I land in London, we have to deplane by stairs.
Fact of the matter is that pretty much everywhere you go in Europe the major airports and even the smaller ones deplane by stairs.
I think people here are spoiled by the American style of things. Even at some of the airports in the States you still have to board by stairs.
If the Airports Authority is going to install jetways, it would be very interesting to see how they would separate the incoming and outgoing passengers without having a second floor…They will need about 10 of these jetways and with the space at the airport now it would just another cluster f#@k as it would almost impossible to have the maneuvering space necessary for that many jetways and the ability to separate passengers..
The UK and Europe are backward and poor. No one wants to take your example of fiscal prudence.
“Fact of the matter is that pretty much everywhere you go in Europe the major airports and even the smaller ones deplane by stairs.” What complete and utter BS. Go on then, name them. Airports where the only choice is deplaning by stair – not ones where if all the jetways are full you have to deplane by stair. I have flown extensively around Europe, and I cannot remember the last major airport I flew through that I had to deplane by stairs. Fact of the matter = your limited experience on one airline flying into LLHR. Got it.
Even if we could get these jetways, there would need to be a second floor built on the current airport? It appears that foresight was not seen by the previous government and I suppose since there was no cover at the entrance to the airport jetways and a second floor must have been quite far from their minds.
People here bash Jamaica, but anyone that knows will acknowledge they have 2 international airports that put O.R.I.A to shame. But they should,serving a much larger tourism and population number, while being a regional Caribbean hub.
They also have vast space ( which we dont have), to have expanded their airports, in now just over a century of operations for Norman Manley.
Sangster (Mo Bay), is also Jamaica’s largest air traffic arrivals airport & is even larger in numbers that Grantley Adams (Barbados).
Cayman could have learnt a lot from these nearby airport authorities that are in our backyard, if only it could have swallowed its pride just a little and looked closer to home for a solution to consider, in design and implementation.
Learn from Bermuda. That is the comparable for Cayman.
Bermuda had all the same issues Cayman had 10 years ago.
And it’s now doing worse than we are; one of the few places in the world shrinking in population, and not due to migration policies, but few births. Ouch.
5:08, But they certainly have a world class Airport and great bus transportation system.
You should consider visiting there some time.
I have two questions for Mr. Bryan.
1) where does he plan to put all these passengers from the large european planes? The airport terminal is already full. He needs to have a cost benefit analysis done to see how many additional passengers we will get per year because of this and whether or not that warrants a runway addition. My gut says no. Our main market will continue to be the US.
2) does he really think it is logical to charge every passenger a new $20 fee to fund the private jet terminal? If he does, he needs to give his head a shake!!
But the rich jet set want it and what they want Kenny & Rosa are determined to give them. So what if the common person has to pay more, it is no skin off their backs!
Can’t wait for that early morning flight to Amsterdam he promised us.
As a constituent who voted for the honourable, er, member, I have 5 questions for Kenny:
1) Fix me up? I really need it.
2) What number comes after 2?
8) Oh never mind.
The projects we can afford first, Kenny? Like a new private jet terminal that will benefit a handful of people and cost tens of millions of dollars of the expansion budget, rather than something that will benefit all our fly in tourists and Caymanians and residents who fly commercial?. Oh, but we’ll get the fly in tourists to pay for the billionaires new shiny facility, got it.
There are companies that build/design moveable boarding ramps and walkway systems that can be moved into position on days we know the weather may not be welcoming. They are completely covered and can be adjoined to stepped covered mobile jetways to get up to any 737/777 that we get here
Anyhow, that’s probably far too sensible an idea…best to do nothing, then in 10 years build a load of permanent jetways, and then relocate the airport in 25 years when we realise the real money is in transport and freight and we make most of the swamplands the largest regional distribution center…along with a port in east end that will come too for ocean transit….
no way, never! Tick tock
There you go making sense again. I thought we talked about this. Just stop it. Nobody wants to read your thoughtful comments.
Apart from east end, I have no idea where a new airport could be built. But I doubt they would relocate. Knowing how grimey the government is I wouldn’t be surprised if the surrounding areas of ORIA would be bought to expand future terminals, new runways etc
been here 20 years…never been rained on getting on or off a plane.
people moan too much.
Same with me. I would only be concerned about getting wet on departure and having to travel all day. Arriving, I really dont care as I can shower in less than a half hour.
Fine for you that are young, careless and nimble. What about the majority of our visitors that are comprised of disabled, elderly and others that don’t move well? What about their carryon luggage? The stayover visitors are the bread and butter for the working class of Cayman.
Moreover, the working class should not have to pay — indirectly or otherwise — for the works that benefit only the elite.
Exactly!
This time of year, you will be dry by evaporation in 5 minutes. By the time the first Mojito is served.
Benn here 17 years. Used to fly overseas at least once a month. Lost count of the number of times I got absolutely soaked, especially in summer. You must not travel much. Anyway, surely the issue is not residents, but ensuring our tourists have a pleasant experience that they want to come again and recommend us – rather than go to far less developed Caribbean islands that seem to have managed to find funding for jetways and don’t prioritise billionaires over ordinary tourists.
Especially when paying $$$$ for airfare, it should be pleasant to land and depart!
Fly much?
Oh what B.S. 11:31. You must only travel in the dry season.
A silly and inconsiderate comment! Many people are travelling with children or are elderly. Many flying out of Cayman are on the first leg of all day or even multiple days journey to NE / NW USA, Canada, other Caribbean countries via USA or even UK, EU or Asia. It’s miserable and unnecessary given the large sums tax-payers are paying for our new “modernized” airport facility.
I understand jetways would be a major operation now and may have made sense if they were included in the original plans. Plus the big money is in the handful of private flights that come in daily so need to make sure that is funded.
But what exactly would be the harm in investing in more ramps which may make boarding/de-boarding easier for elderly and disabled people? Are they too costly? Probably makes more sense to spend on artwork in new private terminal.
They could have had the friggin jetways if they went with the Canadian proposal a decade ago.
Caymanians know best
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
No need for jetways. Find out who the jetway broker is and all questions will be answered. The private terminal should be built at private expense if it is really needed. It’s a big business in the US.
Why not petition to bring back the Hungry Horse ‘restaurant’, too?
I miss that overpriced menu, terrible service, and garbage food quality.
hungry horse was a bargain compared to current airport pricing
They had nothing decent and nothing vegetarian though. much happier with subway
RIP a simple bowl of soup before your flight.
Why not have a “CIMBOCO”, a “Chicken, Chicken” and a Caribeban style restaurant at the airport. Yes probably serving “Jerk” which we all know is not true Caymanian BUT…AT LEAST it would not be US Fast Food chains…Why have those types of outlets, solely, at the main CAYMAN ISLANDS Airport???
…a HUGE opportunity squandered…but OH NO we went down market and with not a single original/unique thought when it came to chosing food/restaurants and the “islands” experience for the departing passangers….
Fast Food…so, so sad…..
why would it be a priority? the shallow fools pushing jetways are the same idiots that have not seen the world. Bali has 4.5 million tourists per year, guess what, they do not have jetways. Nothing wrong with keeping island charm.
8:42, More sense to compare us with Bermuda not Bali.
Perhaps you do not know that Bali is not a financial services centre.
I am sure that the prospect of walking up to 50 yards outdoors acts as a major brake on our financial services industry.
No 1:38, but it sure is a pain in the ass getting wet for those visiting here in the financial services industry from NYC, London and Toronto.
The problem with your post, quite apart from the logic of comparing Bali with Cayman, is that it is factually incorrect. Bali’s main airport does have jetways – has had them for years. 2 minutes on Google would have told you that. No guessing required, not that I needed it, because I have actually been there and you clearly either haven’t or have a very bad memory. And the passenger volume number is rubbish as well. Guess I must be one of those shallow idiots that have not seen the world, although I suspect I have been to Bali a few more times than you 😉
The good news is you can exit from the front and the back. The bad news is its raining. Welcome to third world.
BUT first world prices! – fed up caymanian
Not to worry. Your ticket price will soon go up by $20, but you will still get wet, so Kenny Dart et al can have a shiny new terminal.
The Dubai Islands
Grand Cayman “The Grand Cayman Islands” …
Dart Islands
It would be useful to see the numbers on the Private Jet piece. $42mio sounds like an awful lot to recoup from a very small subset of air traffic. It probably won’t sit well with the regular traveller as they are being charged extra to build this private jet terminal and will not see any benefit. The only ones benefitting are private jets and ORIA from the extra income. I wish I could run my business like that!
So what – Ms Rosa summed it up as the rich people expect to be coddled so that is what Cayman will do. The hell with the cost, we must take care of our rich travelers or they might head somewhere else. The plain old folks can just suck it up as long as the lifestyles of the rich and famous are never affected!
Will Kenny & Rosa be invited to some jet set functions now?
You know it!
Father Dart has requested it, so it shall be…
Then let money bags pay for it himself, they can name it after him but don’t saddle us poor stretched to the limit now taxpayers with the bill. This should go the same way as the PPM port plan, to the trash heap. They both sounded so arrogant on the radio announcing it and how the rich expect to get the extra special service. This is really too much and no respect for the majority who are having a hard time making ends meet now.
Budgeted KYD$45 versus actual…based on previous public experience factor KYD$80+ for a tiny 3 story structure on the North Sound.
Same old Cayman. Taking care of the rich first and hoping the regular folks eventually get something. Only the rich enough matter in Cayman. Not the people not the regular tourists. It matters not which government, which individuals we elect, what promises they make to the people. They take care of the super wealth first.
You can fly into any major airport and have to walk down the stairs. I did it at Heathrow just a week ago.
Yup. About 40% of the time at Heathrow it is a remote airport stand, and it is down the stairs on to buses.
Same with London Gatwick 60% of the time.
How about Milan Linate airport? Down the stairs to the tarmac, waiting for buses.
England is backwards and poor so I don’t understand your point.
7:31, You obviously were not flying BA from Cayman.
I did walk down the stairs on BA from Cayman to LHR terminal 5, 3 times!
+1
You obviously have not flown more than once on BA from Cayman, as this flight, along with any flight into Heathrow depending on time of day, regularly has a remote airplane stand requiring stairs and buses.
Whoever made this decision has been listening to the Island King and the wannabe billionaires. The narrative is that the UHNW want a pretty dedicated terminal. They do not want to share a building with the unwashed masses. They don’t care about us and only for themselves. They don’t want to wait in lines for customs or immigration.
Look closely at what private individuals have ingratiated themselves into roles to influence government policy.
Remember when you and your kids and tourists are getting rained on from the plane to terminal to enter the freezing airport building that your government funds were spent on a billionaire staying dry and is champagne and caviar reception.
That is the way Cayman runs!
When arriving by private in Canada, immigration comes aboard the plane, why can’t they do that here?
Then the “rich and famous” won’t have to deal with the “unwashed”
There is already a immigration section for private fliers. Clearly you are not a part of the private jet crowd.
While you are standing in public immigration line your “betters” have received faster and better service for your tax dollars then you.
And I bet Kenny might get the odd free flight on a private jet, or a few more party invites. Oh, and perhaps some election funding. Sure his wife will get a few lucrative commissions on real estate as well.
Luxury tax NOW
You must be delusional as that will never happen to the rich people, heaven forbid they might take all their money and go elsewhere.
Why, yet again do the elite trump the public on matters of the public purse. Worse still, how have we been so complacent to perpetually allow them to bite and abuse the hand that feeds them?
One simple world mate – MONEY!!!!
And the willingness of our politicians to be swayed by it. Not sure Kenny has thought abut he sells the concept that he is sponsoring the rich at taxpayers expense to the average GTC voter. Mac was always a lot more discrete.
Imagine putting this crazy thing called, and wait for it, a “canopy” on the aircraft boarding stairs and then maybe, AND SERIOUSLY WAIT FOR IT, some sort of concertina, retractable canopy, maybe on wheels (seriously calm your tits this is revolutionary I know) that extends from the covered walkway that already exists to the bottom of the aircraft boarding stairs?
I’m probably wrong but I can’t see how our basic airport seems to be struggling with this.
Nassau has had canopies for years. Lots of other Caribbean region airports too. They do the job for the most part, and don’t cost much. Get the prison to weld them.
Jetways wouldnt really work with the current airport size and layout. The typical jet door is about 10 to 15 feet off the ground and thus jetways dont work well for a single story airport. And that would be one lengthy jetway from the airport to the British Airways parking stand.
Instead, we would just need overhead canopies that run parallel to the airport, and then slightly turn towards each aircraft parking stand. The end of the canopy structure leading to each parking stand can be manually extendable/retractable, to bring to the canopy to the airplane stairs (only need to extend when inclement weather).
Very easy, cost effective. 95% plus of the time no need to manually extend the canopy to the plane stairs (and arriving passengers can enjoy that first shot of the sun).
It sure is great to be young and healthy, but if we want to have a thriving medical tourism industry, attract wealthy stay over retirees that spend money, and allow handicapped access, we need to have a better system of loading and unloading passengers that can’t do stairs. Thousands of millionaire retirees flock to Naples and Scottsdale seasonally instead of Cayman due to stairs, lack of sophistication, attractions, service, and poor value for money. We could at least fix the stairs part.
Such a waste of money. In 10 years the place will be under water. Place would only be good for sea planes.
This is not necessary. Its disingenuous just like the the minister and the chairman’s motives. The chairman previously stated that he had no idea what the final cost of the last expansion was when it was actually released and I believe posted on this website so if this is the case the CEO, who was the one hired by the previous board, should be seriously questioned and the current chairman should learn how to read and learn to comprehend or he should stop with his disinformation campaign.
Dear Anonymous @ 8.19pm
Not sure what your agenda is or the precise motives behind it but I accept that’s your prerogative.
However, you will not be allowed to spread falsehoods and hide behind anonymity or go unchecked given your malicious intent. I hope you will one day be brave enough and not a bitter key board warrior as you vent. No need hide 9260984.
If you have a burning desire to understand what has been stated/explained and now in the public domain; I invite you to write to CIAA and request a meeting with the Board and Management. Alternatively, contact the Ministry of Tourism and your MP.
Please note there is nothing about this project given my current responsibilities, my tenure as Chairman of the board and my views that is not or will not be done in a transparent manner which satisfies full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations as a Public Officer.
I stand by everything I said at the Minister’s press brief about the proposed project and how the process will be followed in a full and transparent manner by CIAA.
Regards
Johann Moxam
Johan is different Cayman hasn’t seen this type before. A real breath of fresh air. No nonsense and too honest to be appreciated by those accustomed to the usual politics. We need more people with this approach in leadership positions.
Lol. As someone who voted in the district he ran in it is this very telling that his style of politricks was not welcome. #isshestillsupported
Moxam cares and takes no prisoners with a direct style which instills confidence and trust.
You really don’t know Moxam if you believe the nonsense you just typed.
You back?
Good to see you.
These guys truly are dumber than dumb
I have been traveling to GC for 20 years and now as I get older, I am so afraid of going down those metal stairs. I will wait and walk the ramp.
Government vote on the funding for projects.
They set out their priorities which many will feel do not make sense. The Minister got his priorities on this all messed up again. How is a private aircraft terminal more important than jetways for the public?
How will jetways work at ground level.?.
FFS people, think before you write.
I would’nt necessarily say we need the jetways thats not really logical for our airport but definitely some sort of protection from the rain in case it is raining when people arrive
Equally, protection (shade) from the harsh sun.
Not so bright Bryan, should explain that the terminal design will not allow the use of air bridges without major renovations, or maybe nobody has told him.
Arrivals and departures would have to be at an upper floor level, not at Ground level as is the case at present.
The issue is the people don’t need a private airport terminal they need a proper functioning airport with jetways.
Nice try though. Amateur misdirection move. Get better training.
How did he get this messed up? He has been listening to those who have private jets. The Minister must believe that public funds should pay to keep these jet set people happy.
You got it Sherlock!
Let the private airport arrivals/departures pay for all of it. The average joe shouldn’t be subsidising the jet set under any circumstances.
Unfortunately that is not how Minister Bryant and his chief secretary see it, so as they have the purse strings guess us dummy taxpayers will foot the bill for it. What a grand opening party that will be though!