Chief Executive Officer of the PAC Kingston Airport Ltd. (PACKAL), Sitara English-Byfield, has announced sweeping infrastructure upgrades at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA), detailing more than US$160 million in ongoing and upcoming projects aimed at modernising the airport, enhancing safety, and improving the passenger experience.

Speaking at the final Airport Forum of 2025, English-Byfield said the airport is “fully focused on transformation,” and highlighted major works already completed, underway, or scheduled to begin shortly.

Restroom rehabilitation completed

English-Byfield reported that the airport’s restroom rehabilitation programme—which began earlier this year—has been fully completed.

“When we were here in May, we showed you where we were and said we would finish in July… but we finished in August,” she said.

She explained that the project included three phases: expansion of select restrooms, interior improvements for others, and the installation of a uniform exterior façade across all facilities.

“All our restrooms have this look throughout Norman Manley… and people appreciate the improvement,” she noted.

However, the CEO appealed for better care from airport users, reporting frequent damage to fixtures. “The destruction of faucets, hand soap dispensers, and toilet seats is alarming,” she lamented.

US$700,000 tile replacement project advancing

English-Byfield noted that a major tile replacement programme is underway, beginning with the check-in area and upper pier, completed at a cost of US$700,000.

“We are now doing the immigration hall… 1,700 square metres… expected to be completed in January 2026,” she said, noting that early reviews from travellers have already been positive.

Wastewater treatment plant 60 per cent complete

Calling it “not so sexy, but very necessary”, English-Byfield revealed that work is 60 per cent complete on a US$2.5 million upgrade to NMIA’s wastewater treatment plant. The project includes new aeration tanks, with completion expected by May 2026.

Additionally, she revealed that the AAJ’s most ambitious undertaking is the extension of the airport’s runway by 300 metres—part of a US$72 million safety upgrade to implement Runway End Safety Areas (RESA) on both ends.

Designs began in July 2024, and displacement work commenced on November 27, 2025.

“There were six teams last night painting different sections of the runway… we are changing what the runway looks like,” she explained, noting that while the runway is currently shorter, it remains fully capable of accommodating European long-haul flights.

The extension will add 19,000 square metres of new land to Jamaica’s physical footprint. Construction is expected to be completed by August 2027.

Airside projects: taxiways, apron reconstruction

Multiple airside projects are either underway or scheduled:

• Taxiway Rehabilitation:
  Milling and overlay of all taxiways from Alpha to Echo.
  “Cost is US$10 million… expected to start January 4, 2026, and to last about six months,” she said.
• Apron Reconstruction:
  This is where all the aeroplanes park to be maintained, refuelled, and let off passengers. Replacement of 111,000 square metres of apron surface in concrete. The cost is US$53 million, and construction begins first quarter of 2026.

Security technology upgrades

Six new X-ray machines costing US$620,000 have been procured and will be installed next month.

“We were doing without these X-ray machines for over a year, but they are now commissioned and installed because we had to do some reconfiguration of our belt system to facilitate these larger machines, and this is now complete.”

Also major sustainability project is moving forward regarding solar farm phase two. “We’re extremely proud of this,” English-Byfield said, outlining a US$8 million investment to generate 5MW of solar power with 8.1MW of battery storage.

Phase one’s existing 2.1MW system will be integrated into the new battery-based system. Completion is expected by March 2026.

New Carousels, Escalators and Elevators

The airport is replacing its reliable but ageing arrival carousels with newer models costing US$900,000, scheduled for installation within three months of arrival next month.

The people mover upgrades include replacing both escalators, adding a second escalator in each location, and replacing four of the airport’s nine elevators.

“This requires major civil works… the area has to be prepared to take a second escalator,” she said.

Additionally, a full redesign of airport signage, from the roundabout, including the car park, to the far end of the airport and will cost US$500,000.

English-Byfield noted that installation has already begun, with completion scheduled for January 2026.