T
he next few years represent a crucial development
phase in the Saint Lucia tourism industry. This is best
demonstrated by the detailed discussions taking place on
how to position Hewanorra International Airport to ensure
the most effective response to the dynamic travel market.
Plans for a new terminal are currently being reviewed.
The global economic slowdown hasn’t been time lost on
improving the airport, in fact, it has provided a welcome
breathing space to truly explore the nature and extent to
which the delivery of efficient customer service in the 21st
century should be taken.
SLASPA is developing a well-defined Master Plan to
generate answers to this crucial question. For such a
complicated task, there are numerous elements to the
Master Plan, all of which are interdependent. SLASPA has
been active in getting passenger feedback on current
services and future requirements, which has provided the
Authority with a vital insight into what is needed to serve
visitors to its tropical island paradise.
New terminal plans
A major aspect of the proposed redevelopment has never
been in doubt. A new terminal building is still on the cards.
Such a facility is crucial to the airport’s infrastructure to
ensure it remains a vibrant and efficient gateway to Saint
Lucia. The Island’s tourismmarket forecasts that some
800,000 passengers could pass through the airport
annually by 2017, a near doubling of today’s throughput.
The construction of a separate second terminal to
complement the existing building would address the
disruption issue, but will create obvious difficulties in
terms of passenger flow, and an unnecessary doubling up
of costs for staff, IT infrastructure, signage and many other
systems.
It is envisaged that Hewanorra’s new terminal would be
more than twice as large as the current facility, equipped
with 6-8 jet bridges and a proposed 13 parking positions –
SAINT LUCIA AIR AND SEA PORTS AUTHORITY
HANDBOOK & PORT DIRECTORY 2013/2015
Hewanorra International Airport
24
Positioning for anEven
Brighter Future
