Cancun’s Terminal 5 likely built after expansion of Terminal 4 and train terminals

While the construction of Terminal 5 of the Cancun International Airport is a go, officials say they are uncertain as to if it will be started over the next five years.

Director of the airport, Carlos Trueba Coll, explained that before construction of Terminal 5 begins, the Master Development Plan 2019-2023 will see the expansion of Terminal 4, possibly to double its current capacity.

He says that while Aeropuertos del Sureste (ASUR) talks about a multi-million dollar investment, some existing terminal areas will first be consolidated, in particular, the expansion of the T4 which will occur in two stages.

Carlos Trueba Coll, Director Aeropuerto de Cancún
As it stands now, the T4 can handle up to 9 million passengers per year, however with the expansion, that could be increased to between 18 to 20 million passengers. He explained that Terminals 2 and 3 are also part of the improvement program that would see better security and infrastructure.

As for Terminal 1, which is not used now that VivaAerobus and Magnicharters have been relocated to Terminal 2, Trueba said that it will remain operative if needed. “Let’s say it remains as a reserve.”

While there has been talk of building a hotel, the profile of the project along with the environmental impact statement have not been included in the short term investment plans of the airport.

Asur will, however, build a large intermodal terminal in Cancun which will link up with the Maya Train. The participation of Asur in the construction of a passenger terminal that will link the Cancun International Airport with the Maya Train is confirmed and has been presented to the team of president-elect, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

That project consists of a large intermodal terminal that would serve both the passenger segment and the cargo segment, said Rogelio Jiménez Pons, the upcoming head of the National Fund of Tourism Promotion.

“We will seek to maximize the potential of investments that the Maya Train can have, both in the tourist segment and in the cargo segment, hence the terminal being built with the maximum possible versatility in terms of uses and services.”

He also says that a project is being worked on with the airport concessionaire that in another phase, will include a light or suburban train that would serve the city of Cancún, something independent of the Maya Train.

Source: Rivera Maya News

Round 2 of renovations begin at Ford Airport

Gerald R. Ford International Airport is encouraging travelers to arrive earlier as crews begin upgrades to airline ticket counters, baggage claims and curbside areas.

Construction on the $18 million second phase of the airport’s Gateway Transformation Project officially began Monday and will continue through the summer of 2020.

Ford Airport plans to add food and beverage vendors as well as restrooms to the area surrounding its baggage carousels.

The first stage of the airport’s $45 million Gateway Transformation Project spanned December 2015 to September 2017 and included consolidating security and adding new retail and concession areas, restrooms, nursing rooms and business centers.

Source: Wood8 TV

Philippines: High Priority ‘Build Build Build’ airport projects seen to vitalize PH aviation industry

In line with the administration’s ambitious Build Build Build program, 28 airport projects for construction/rehabilitation/ upgrade are listed in the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) priority agenda. Of the 28, three international airport projects – Lal-Lo, Puerto Prinsesa, and Mactan-Cebu –  and four domestic airport projects – Tuguegarao, Calbayog, Ozamis, and Naga – have already been finished.

The Clark International Airport expansion project is due to be completed on June 2020.

These projects are projected to upgrade the country’s aviation industry, and will ensure greater regional accessibility. In the long run, this will propel a sustained economic growth through an improved and more convenient movement of people and products, and generate quality jobs for Filipinos.

Night-rating of airports
Equipping airports with night-rating capabilities allows them to accommodate evening flights, thereby increasing their daily service capacity. As of October 2018, 20 out of the existing 42 airports nationwide have already been night-rated. In 2017, four airports – Legaspi, Roxas, Dumaguete, and Caticlan – were equipped with night-rating capabilities. And early this year, the Tuguegarao airport has also been night-rated.

Four more airports – Naga, Dipolog, Cotabato, and Cauayan – are targeted to be completed this year.

Construction of new airports
With a 2.1-kilometer runway to accommodate heavier aircrafts, the Lal-lo International Airport in Cagayan commenced operations last March 2018. With this, the airport is now capable of catering to commercial jet aircrafts and other heavier aircrafts, besides chartered flights. The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) also aims to fast-track the construction of the remaining runway facilities for smoother and safer flights.

Meanwhile, the the Bohol Panglao International Airport is scheduled for inauguration on November 22, 2018.

NAIA Rehabilitation
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport is also in line for rehabilitation. The four-year project involves improvements and expansion of terminals, as well as the construction of additional runways, taxiways, passenger terminals and other support infrastructure.

This P101 Billion upgrade is seen to benefit 65 million passengers per year, and will be funded through unsolicited proposal, subject to Swiss challenge.

Notably, through this administration’s efforts, NAIA, the country’s main international airport, has risen from being dubbed as one of the world’s worst airports into the 10th most-improved airport in the world. (DBM).

Source:

Nigeria commissions Port Harcourt Airport Terminal

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, commissioned the  US $600m Port Harcourt International Airport Terminal in Nigeria funded by Export-Import Bank of China.

Speaking during the commissioning of the airport, the President said opening of the new terminal building of the Port Harcourt International Airport represents a significant landmark for international air travelers, particularly from the south-south geopolitical zone, and the entire country.

“Today’s commissioning is an example of Government’s deliberate policy to sustain the development of infrastructure for economic growth in all geo-political zones of the country,” said His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari.

President Buhari also praise the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Chinese government and the China Exim Bank for their financial support of US $500m and the various roles they played towards the successful completion of the project. The additional US $100m counterpart fund came from the government of Nigeria.

The terminal which commenced in February 2014, was constructed by China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC). The company is also constructing new terminals in Abuja, Kano and Lagos International Airports.

Global aviation standards

President Buhari also assured that his administration is deliberately working to sustain the development of infrastructure for economic growth in all geo-political zones. According to Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the new airport terminal building will boost the economy of Rivers State as well as create jobs for people of the state.

As part of the infrastructure renewal program, the construction of 4 new international terminals at Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano airports was embarked upon by the federal government with a view to modernizing the aging airport infrastructure to meet global aviation standards and improved service delivery in tandem with best international practices.

The new commissioned terminal has the capacity for seven million passengers annually, 15 times the number of total passengers for entire Ghana for emphasis. In Nigeria aviation remains the safest means of transportation. Under current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, transport sector continues to undergo series of reform to sustain international best practice to ensure safety and security.

Source: Construction Review