Chairman of the Board of the St Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority (SCASPA), Linkon Maynard (right) shakes hands with Veling Ltd Chairman Uday Nayak after signing the contract for the construction of a multi-million dollar jet facility that officials BASSETERRE, St Kitts, Thursday August 26, 2010 – Construction of St Kitts’ multi-million dollar private jet facility at the Robert L Bradshaw International Airport is set to begin in February next year.
And officials are expecting the new terminal – estimated to cost between US$15 million and US$20 million – to boost high end tourism in St Kitts and Nevis.
“It would make the country much more attractive to the high-end travelers, the celebrities, etc who…like to be pampered and like hassle free travel,” Chairman of the Board of the St Christopher Air and Sea Port Authority (SCASPA), Linkon Maynard, said at the recent contract signing ceremony . “I think that is what the Fixed Based Operations (FBO) facility guarantees to that type of traveler.”
The project is part of the general upgrade plans for the ports. Maynard disclosed that four proposals were submitted for the construction of the private terminal, and the bid by UK-based Veling Aviation Ltd was selected.
“Apart from the profit sharing arrangement to bring more revenue into SCASPA, it is also going to have significant spinoffs into the economy as a whole,” Maynard added, noting that the negotiated contract allows current FBOs access to the facility for their business and first class passengers.
Minister of Tourism and International Transport Senator Ricky Skerritt said the construction of the terminal is a significant step forward in the transformation of the country’s tourism product.
“With competition for the global private jet market so intense, this project is designed to facilitate the type of arrival and departure experience that discerning travelers, including entertainment celebrities, sports stars and international investors, expect,” he said. “This new private air terminal will enable St Kitts to deliver the highest quality of personalized service to passengers on private jets, as well as scheduled VIP arrivals, featuring our genuinely welcoming Kittitian hospitality.”
The terminal amenities will include an upscale lounge, bar, meeting room, business center, showers, open air plaza and other interactive features found in similar facilities. The designers have incorporated green areas that will feature plants, moats and a water fall.
Construction will be done in three phases and is scheduled to start in February 2011 with the first phase completed and operational by August 2012.
Veling consultant Michael Dingemans said the construction phase will provide work on site for locals while the FBO itself will employ a minimum of 10 full time persons, with the staff count increasing to 20.
The project is a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) project with a term of 30 years.