BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 6th November 2020) – Minister of Tourism, Transport and Ports Lindsay Grant says all works at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport would be fully completed for the first commercial flight (American Airlines) scheduled for Saturday 7th November 2020 transporting 122 passengers.
He made the disclosure after being quizzed by a reporter on the observation that some works were still ongoing, following a media tour conducted on Wednesday 4th November 2020, in questioning the actual state of readiness.
“When we stated on the last occasion that we would be ready for October 31st, our readiness was in terms of what knew which was that there would have been no commercial flights arriving before November 7th. Our readiness was in terms of being able to allow the charters etc. in which were allowed to,” he remarked.
The Ports Minister continued: “I am advised that come November 7th, we would be ready. I think 95 % or there about of the works are complete; you would have toured this morning. Yes, we have one or two bits of work to complete but I’m advised that in any event on November 7th, we will be ready for American Airlines flight which houses 122 persons; we have no difficulty with that.”
Grant continued: “What you must understand is it’s a work in progress. We expect that we are going to have teething problems but it’s new and uncharted waters that we’re in as you would recognize the newness of testing 122 persons passing through, obviously the speed at which we would normally come through the airport would not be the same so November 7th for us is a signal moment and so obviously we will learn from whatever challenges we have on the 7th.
About the capacity of the expected AA flight, he indicated “That means the flight is technically full because it is a 128 seater.”
According to the Ports Minister, “SCASPA (St.Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority) has been working diligently within a very short period to ensure that the airport infrastructure and facilities are adequate for the safe processing of all passengers.”
As understood, a total of forty-nine (49) charter flights collectively from Anguilla, BVI Antigua and Barbuda have landed at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport following the reopening of the borders on Saturday 31st October 2020.