THE recently completed $10m General Aviation Facility at the Sangster International Airport is expected to cut down on the processing time for passengers and owners of private aircraft.

“It will provide modern customs, immigration and airport services, and efficient processing of international and domestic aviation traffic,” said Transport Minister Peter Phillips.

He was speaking at Wednesday’s monthly meeting of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

According to the minister, the facility was installed in response to concerns, expressed over the years, by both private aircraft owners and tourism interests.

The facility, which has been operating for the past six weeks, is now located at the domestic end of the airport but the long-term goal is to provide a separate terminal for private crafts.

There is now an ongoing US$50M upgrading project being undertaken at the Sangster International Airport, in a bid to ensure that the facility will continue to meet passenger demand while the divestment process is being negotiated. According to Minister Phillips, the divestment, which will see the successful bidder operating the airport for the next 30 years, should be wrapped up by September.

The preliminary bidding began last January, the second round was launched last November, and short listed bidders submitted their documentation in April of this year. The final evaluations are now being done.