Archive for the ‘press releases’ Category
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The Jamaican government has been given the go-ahead to ratify the agreement establishing the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS).
Cabinet gave the approval at its sitting held on March 3.
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| Minister with responsibility for Information, Daryl Vaz. JIS Photo |
Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Daryl Vaz, explained that CASSOS is aimed at strengthening the civil aviation authorities of the region by promoting the upgrading and harmonisation of regulations, standards, and inspector training.
It also serves to enhance the ability of individual states to fully discharge their safety oversight responsibilities and provide resource-sharing mechanisms to ensure that scarce technical skills are always available.
CASSOS grew out of the Regional Aviation Safety Oversight System (RASOS) that was established in 2002 as a result of a 2001 agreement by the Association of Civil Aviation Authorities of the Caribbean (ACAAC) to develop a mechanism that would reduce the cost of providing the required airworthiness and flight operation oversight services to individual CARICOM member states.
Source: CaribbeanNetNews
NEW YORK, March 1 (UPI) — Passengers at JFK International Airport in New York can expect longer delays for four months while a major runway is overhauled, a U.S. official said.
Federal Aviation Administration system operations director Mike Sammartino said travelers can expect average delays of 29 minutes, with delays averaging 50 minutes during rush hours, The New York Post reported Monday.
The $376 million project includes replacing the asphalt surface of the 14,572-foot Bay Runway with concrete and widening the surface to accommodate larger jets.
Normally, the runway handles about half of departures at JFK, which ranked 28th out of 31 major airports for on-time performance last year.
“Hurry up and wait — that’s the story of JFK,” said graduate student Zena Samuels, who was waiting at the airport for a friend to arrive.
“Each year, the delays keep getting longer,” she said.
In addition to the delays, passengers can expect to pay higher ticket prices as airlines attempt to make up for losses connected to the runway project, the newspaper said.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009–Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) plans to launch chartered flights between Kingston and Atlanta in an effort to capitalise on the closure of Air Jamaica’s Atlanta route.
The carrier is now in the final stages of its application, which makes an allowance for public objections.
“If there are no objections then they will get the permit to operate from September 11 to December 13,” said
Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesperson Jennifer McDonald.
Million Air was the first airline since January this year to offer direct charter flights from Atlanta to Kingston and Montego Bay. The CAA had issued 62 charter permits to 45 carriers worldwide since January to offer service to
the island.
Air Jamaica pulled out of its loss-making Atlanta route last year, arguing that the company could use the aircraft on a more productive route like New York. Air Jamaica operated one daily flight from Atlanta, but could not fill its planes. The airline said if it had more connections to more US cities it could feed traffic into Jamaica from Atlanta. ASA, meanwhile, connects to 113 airports in 31 US states, the District of Columbia, Bahamas and Canada.
“I got petitions and received all manner of complaints, but there just weren’t enough Jamaicans in Atlanta to warrant the route,” Nobles said in a recent Business Observer interview.
ASA started operations 30 years ago. ASA was 20 per cent held by Delta Airlines until the major carrier acquired ASA outright in 1999 before selling it to SkyWest in 2005. SkyWest made US$9.3 million in net income in the first quarter of this year, a 67 per cent decline in profit over the same period last year. SkyWest stated that it has significant long-term lease obligations not reflected as liabilities on SkyWest’s consolidated balance sheet. At a 6.2 per cent discount rate, the value of these lease obligations was approximately US$2.1 billion as of March 31, 2009.
ASA plans to fly a CRJ-900 plane on the Kingston route, with a 76-passenger capacity.
AIRPORT June 30, 2009 — PJIAE is making good on its reputation of being the Catalyst of Activity in the Simpson Bay area. In a move that should entice people to come and experience the uniqueness of its Food Court, the airport company is launching a Sizzlin’ Summer Special with attractive deals for customers.
“It’s a scorching 30 degrees out there this summer, and here we have a comfortably air-conditioned building with unique food establishments that many locals do not really know much about. We hope to be able to take advantage of the slow months ahead of us to change this,” said Mrs. Lucrecia Lynch-Matinburgh, PJIAE’s Marketing and Communications Manager.
While the Sizzlin’ Summer campaign was initially designed to draw traffic to the airport, PJIAE and the companies that operate inside the Food Court intend to use the opportunity to express gratitude to the St. Maarten community for its continued patronage. “We know a lot of families will not travel abroad this summer, so we are pleased to offer them an alternative,” said PJIAE President, drs Holiday.
JOINT EFFORT
The campaign will feature a weekly Friday evening party dubbed the Friday Summer Cool Down, a coloring contest for children under 12, and a weekly raffle among Food Court patrons which will peak at the end of September with the drawing of a monetary contribution toward a child’s school-fees. This prize -NAf 1,100- is a joint effort by PJIAE and the concessionaires, as a combined show of commitment toward education.
To win, customers must purchase from at least three of the Food Court units during the campaign, collect stamps from them, with which they enter not only for the weekly raffle, but for the grand drawing as well.
The businesses are also offering other special treats. “This is a wonderful idea from PJIAE Management to increase traffic into our establishments,” said one of the business owners.
All agreed that for the duration of the summer campaign -which begins next week and runs till September 30-, each child accompanied by an adult will eat for free at any food establishment on the ground floor of the airport building. “One of the units on the ground floor will be fitted with a bouncer and there will be other daily games, and snacks and ice cream at discount prices in the Food court,” said Mrs. Lynch.
SO MUCH MORE
The Sizzlin’s Summer Campaign fits well into the airport’s efforts to further institutionalizing its So Much More retail brand that was launched a few months ago.
The catalyst of development in St. Maarten, PJIA now has a diverse offering of services in its terminal building, ranging from parking, to taxis and limos, to tour busses and beauty salon, banking and Wi-Fi, as well as conference rooms, to food and beverage and shopping. “Name it and you can most likely find it; if not, we are working on it,” PJIAE President drs. Eugene Holiday said. “Every business that is represented at our AeroCity was carefully selected. Everyone living in St. Maarten should come down to PJIA, whether you’re traveling or not- and experience St. Maarten’s AeroCity. An experience that undoubtedly lead you to conclude that PJIA is “So Much More.”
ONLINE
PJIAE is taking this special to the world wide web. A special web-page has been created on www.pjiae.com and on the airport’s retail web-page which is also accessible through www.somuchmoresxm.com. And, in an unprecedented move, regular updates on the Food Court special are be available on facebook. “We are utilizing all tools at hand to get the message out that the airport is the place to be this summer,” said Marketing and Communications Manager Lynch. “Stay tuned online; there will be prizes there too.”
PRESS RELEASE
AIRPORT June 8, 2009 — Due to the start of works to facilitate the airport road upgrade traffic will be affected as of Tuesday. Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company (PJIAE) apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause and hereby asks for the understanding, cooperation and patience of motorists, in light of the changes that will be implemented.
MNO Vervat on Friday May 29th 2009 started with airport infrastructure upgrade works, from which a modified and rerouted road network should emerge. When the construction is completed, traffic coming from the direction of the WINAIR offices through a roundabout at the location where the entrance to the public car park is currently situated; From that point the new road will continue along the Simpson Bay lagoon flowing along the eastern and northern shoreline and then curve to the south following the perimeters of the public car park to the west; At the front of the Terminal building the new road will connect with the existing airport road.
He pointed out that the temporary situation is an important facet in the island’s overall development. “This project will result in the reduction of traffic congestion, thus reducing the loss of valuable productive time and reducing the chances of people missing flights,” drs. Holiday said, placing the construction in line with the development of the airport within the framework of the airport master plan. “We’re calling on motorists to use extreme caution during this period,” urged PJIAE President drs. Eugene Holiday.
About the road works
The new road represents a US $2 million investment. This project forms an integral part of the adjusted Airport Masterplan and is aimed at securing and enhancing adequate traffic flow to/from the airport and airport parking; relinquishing the pedestrian crossing over the main road; Increasing the car parking
During the past days there have been insinuations and allegations in the media with respect to the so-called position of a Director of Security at the Princess Juliana International Airport (the “Airport”). In the first place there does not exist a function of Director of Security at the Airport and in the second place no such function has been created by the President Managing Director of the Airport, Mr. Eugene Holiday.
There is a position of Manager of Security, which position is not vacant at this
moment.
Statements to the effect that the President Managing Director of the Airport has created the position of Director of Security to accommodate his brother, the Chief Commissioner of Police of Sint Maarten, are not only completely false but also slanderous.
The Princess Juliana International Airport condemns the abovementioned false insinuations and allegations about its President Managing Director in the strongest possible terms.
Miguel L. Alexander
(Chairman of the Supervisory Board of
Princess Juliana International Airport
Operating Company N.V.)
AIRPORT – Princess Juliana International Airport operating company confirms that American Eagle flight AE 5039 en route to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic returned to St. Maarten after electrical problems were experienced in the cockpit. The plane departed PJIA at 13:05 hours and at approximately 13:25 the captain reported to the Air Traffic Control that the plane would return to St. Maarten. PJAE mobilized its emergency response immediately after receiving the notification. The aircraft landed safely at 13:33 and none of the 46 passengers and 4 crew members on board the aircraft were injured. Our medical coordinator was on site and checked passengers out of precautionary measures.
Because the aircraft was unable to taxi to the apron on its own power, the runway was closed for in- and outbound traffic from the moment of the landing until 14:45 hours, when the towing away of the aircraft was completed. As a result of the closure, 6 aircraft were delayed to depart St. Maarten. In addition 5 aircraft could not land as scheduled of which a Winair flight diverted to Saba and a Trans Anguilla flight returned to Anguilla.
The exact cause of the problems experienced is being investigated and arrangements have been made by the Airline to ensure that the stranded passengers will reach their destination.
We express sincere appreciation for the cooperation extended by all entities and persons involved in this emergency response.
Princess Juliana International Airport operating company N.V.
Simpson Bay
drs. Eugene B. Holiday
President
Airport – The operations of Princess Juliana International Airport were affected on the evening of July 3, 2007 due to the outage of the runway lighting. One flight was cancelled, two flights were delayed and one flight diverted to Anguilla.
The outage was due to damage done to the electrical cables for the runway lighting. The cause of the damage is being investigated and measures will be taken to prevent a similar situation from happening again.
At approximately 7:30 pm the outage of the runway lighting was noticed and reported. Our technical department investigated the matter and repairs started soon thereafter. At approximately 8:50 pm one phase of the runway lighting was repaired and operations of the airport resumed as normal.
We regret the unfortunate situation caused by the outage and apologize for any inconvenience caused as a result of this.
Princess Juliana International Airport operating company N.V.
Simpson Bay
drs. Eugene B. Holiday
President
Airport – The fire protection level of Princess Juliana International Airport was affected today due to the non-reporting to work of Rescue and Fire Fighting personnel.
As a result of this situation the fire protection level was insufficient in the morning hours to execute normal aircraft operations. Following some measures the level of fire protection was raised to a category 7 allowing for limited aircraft operations as of 08:45 am.
The developments resulted in one delay and cancellations of 12 flights.
At 11:15 the fire protection level was restored to the normal level and operations at the airport continued as normal.
We regret the unfortunate situation caused by the lower fire protection level and apologize to the traveling public for any inconvenience caused as a result of this.
Princess Juliana International Airport operating company N.V.
Simpson Bay
drs. Eugene B. Holiday
President
Airport – The Princess Juliana International Airport operating company N.V. will introduce an Airport Improvement Fee (AIF) as of July 1, 2007. The AIF, a temporary charge of US$ 5.00, is meant to help off set the cost for the improvement of the airport infrastructures and services at Princess Juliana International Airport. It is projected to be in place until December 31, 2011, subject to the development in passenger traffic.
The new terminal building and related works of the Phase II Capital Investment Project whick were taking into operation in October 2006, represents an investment of some US$ 92 million. The project was financed on the international capital market via a commercial loan. As is customary, airports usually introduce a special charge in addition to regular rates and charges to cover new capital investments. The AIF will go toward helping meet the financiel obligations among which the payments for interest and principle on the loan.
PJIAE maintains a rates and charges policy that reflects the costs of the airport infrastructure and services rendered and that is competitive with other regional airports in terms of value for money. “While preparing our business plan we have done extensive studies to review that the improvements would be executed considering our competitive position” said President drs. Holiday. “We received endorsement from Government with its approval of the phase II capital investment project” he continued.
The fee applies to domestic and international departing passengers. To facilitate a smooth passenger flow the AIF will be collected via the airline tickets. The temporary fee will be withdrawn when passenger levels increase to sustain the investment.
Princess Juliana International Airport operating company N.V.
Simpson Bay,
drs. Eugene B. Holiday
President