BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - RETROFITTING works at the RLB International Airport, which was expected to be completed just before the first major flight into St. Kitts and Nevis when the borders reopen, is now scheduled for completion on November 6.
This announcement was made last evening (Oct. 28) by the Acting Officer-in-Charge at the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority, Tuffida Stewart.
Stewart was at the time providing an update on the airport’s retrofitting works to media operatives at the NEOC media brief held at the Royal St. Kitts Hotel, where she said SCASPA’s retrofitting plans are progressing well but work would be completed in time for the arrival of the first American Airlines flight from the United States on Saturday, November 7.
“SCASPA is well on its way in terms of preparing for the reopening of the borders. In terms of the retrofit that is being done at the moment, it is progressing quite smoothly and quickly. Notwithstanding the increasing scope of work, the arrival area has been completely transformed to facilitate the safe and effective processing of the passengers. And SCASPA wishes to confirm that the facilities would be able to process the arriving passengers come October 31st, 2020,” Stewart said.
According to the Officer-in-Charge (Ag), “There are some deliverables, however, that need to be completed to fully complete the retrofit works. And it is expected that those would be done on November 6th, in time for the AA flight. They include the installation of the heat reduction protective cover for the welcome center and the installation of special AC units at the testing booth at the isolation center at the airport.”
Stewart told reporters that the items are on order and they are expected to arrive within two weeks. She however noted that if the shipment is delayed, it would not impact operations at the airport.
With regards to the screening of passengers, ample signages are expected to be installed along with physical distancing markers on the floor and the seating area, while a PA system will be used in the welcome center.
Upon entry to the airport, the medical team will tag the arriving passenger with a colour code to differentiate passengers who are to be quarantined and those arriving from the CARICOM Bubble.
Meanwhile, Stewart stated that additional hand sanitising stations would be placed around the airport and staff would be fully clothed in their Personal Protective Gears.