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Sangster
International Airport
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
Sangster has become Jamaica's busiest airport, wrestling the title from
the capital Kingston, but the facilities were woeful. In 2000, a master
improvement plan began and has so far resulted in an impressive world class
new concourse and soon a new ticketing hall, baggage claim, immigration,
and customs facility. As tourism is a primary industry on this island, the
airport upgrade is a must.
Sangster
is served by all major U.S. legacy carriers and a number of European airlines
as well. It can handle aircraft all the way up to Virgin's 747-400 which
calls multiple times throughout the week. |
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Sangster New Ticketing
Hall
The curbside extension of the new Sangster is due to open in March,
2008 replacing the original 1959 structure. |
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Current Old Ticketing
Hall
This ticketing hall will be
demolished with the arrival of the new Ticket Hall in March, 2008.
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Old Baggage Hall
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American Airlines Business/First
Lounge
AA operates a small lounge, but the service and facility is stripped
down from the Admiral's Clubs so AA doesn't brand it in that manner. |
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Air Jamaica School Art
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MBJ Old Duty-Free Promenade
and Airside Concourse
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New 2005 Concourse
MBJ's sparkling new concourse is the most modern building in
the entire country and a remarkable contrast to the old facilities. The
new concourse was the first in Jamaica with air bridges. It was completed
in December, 2005. |
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American A300-600 Door
at Jetway
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American A300-600, Air
Canada A319, and Virgin 747-400
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American Airlines Airbus
A300-600
The A300 is the workhorse of AA's Carribbean and Eastern Seaboard
network. It's large pax and freight capacity makes these continuous money
makers. AA use the 300s on routes to Miami and New York JFK. |
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Canada Airbus A319
Air Canada operates A319s to Toronto and Montreal from MBJ with
seasonal flights to Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, and Halifax. |
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Spirit Airlines Airbus
A320
Ft. Lauderdale based Spirit is reinventing itself as an ultra LCC
with a focus on Latin America and the Carribbean. Fares are advertised as
low as $9 each way. It was the first U.S. airline to charge for any checked
baggage and ala carte water and soft drinks. The response has been overwhelming
but it has contributed to severe operation problems at Ft Lauderdale. The
sober 2003 livery here is being phased out in favor of a more upbeat look
to reflect the airline's new leisure focus. |
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Sangster International
Airport - Montego Bay, Jamaica Flightline (2000)
The Sangster International Airport flightline at Montego Bay reveals
2 Air Jamaica A-310s, an Air Jamaica A320, and a Pan Am III 727-200. Pan
Am’s 727s serve charter flights into the market. |
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A310 - Montego Bay,
Jamaica
This Air Jamaican A310 was used primarily on North American routes
having been replaced by the A340 on flights to London before Air Jamaica
handed those services over to Virgin. Air Jamaica, by the way, has an excellent
service in coach and first class trouncing the competition. The airline
has improved measurably since. The Montego Bay terminal lacked air bridges,
and actually lacked air conditioning until just a few years back. These
shots were taken from the observation deck, still open as of August, 2000.
The observation deck has now been demolished to make way for the new concourse. |
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AA757 – Montego
Bay, Jamaica
American Airlines, the dominant carrier in the Caribbean, flies
primarily 737-800s and 757-200s in these markets with the retirement of
the 727-200. Prior to the new concourse opening ,all flights use air stairs.
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ATC Tower
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