In commemorating its 20th anniversary of operating the Sangster International Airport (SIA) in Montego Bay, MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ) launched its foundation by donating J$41 million to a nearby school as well as students and charity organisations from surrounding communities.
At an open-air celebration of its anniversary on Thursday, December 14, MBJ announced its adoption of the Flanker Primary and Infant School and presented a cheque for J$30 million to expand its early childhood department. MBJ also presented another J$11 million to over 180 students and three community organisations, all from the proceeds of its recent 10K and 5K run/walk.
Chief Executive Officer of MBJ Airports Limited, Shane Munroe, underscored the company’s commitment to philanthropic initiatives that support the development of early childhood and primary institutions in Montego Bay. Through its annual scholarships awarded to children from primary up to tertiary institutions. the airport operator has been demonstrating its commitment to the community’s well-being and education.
He described the 20th anniversary celebration as a momentous occasion and “a testament to the vision, determination, and hard work that have defined our journey over the past two decades. … It is your commitment and professionalism that have earned Sangster International Airport numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious title of the Best Airport in the Caribbean for 15 consecutive years from the World Travel Awards,” he assured the employees.
He said the period had been marked by remarkable growth and success for SIA as it played its role as the leading international gateway to Jamaica.
“Our commitment to connecting the island to the world, driving economic growth, and fostering tourism has been unwavering from the very beginning,” said Munroe, with Sangster International Airport now serving more than 45 direct destinations worldwide and playing a critical role as a hub for tourism travel.
“Our focus remains on expanding our network of destinations, enhancing passenger experiences, and promoting sustainable practices throughout our operations. We are not just an airport; we are a symbol of Jamaican pride, a vital gateway connecting Jamaica to the world,” he added.
Outlining MBJ’s history, Munroe identified iconic milestones and memorable achievements, leading up to the current year in which the company continues to excel.
In addition to US$309 million already pumped into the airport to upgrade infrastructure and to expand service areas,Munroe announced that “next year we have committed to over US$40 million in investments”. He said the airport is for the benefit of the people of Jamaica, “and unlike most companies we don’t just pay taxes, we also pay concession fees with US$349 million in concession fees and taxes directly going towards the Jamaican economy”.
MBJ crafted a new vision and mission in 2020 that commits to being “the steward of a key strategic infrastructure for Jamaica …to ensure a safe, passenger-centric, sustainable, efficient, and profitable airport operation” and “to be a leading tourist destination airport, exceeding the expectations of our passengers while being uniquely Jamaican”.
SIA has been voted the leading international airport in the Caribbean for 15 years. It is also one of a handful of Jamaican companies with multiple ISO certifications, having received ISO 9001 Quality Management System (QMS) Certification, and ISO 270001 Information Security Management System (ISMS)Certification.
In addition to improving its infrastructure, a customer experience (CX) programme has been launched for all stakeholders to improve the customer experience delivered by employees at the airport.
“Our aim is to deliver exceptional hospitality-class service to our passengers and guests and ensure their experience is stress-free, enjoyable, memorable, and seamless,” said Munroe.
Beyond that, he said MBJ recognised the importance of sustainability and its responsibility to the community. Its eco-friendly initiatives included a 3MW solar energy project, showcasing its dedication to reducing its carbon footprint.
“A new project is now underway to increase our solar PV system to 6MW, becoming one of the largest private solar PV installations in Jamaica and the region,” he announced.
Munroe paid tribute to the contribution of MBJ’s dedicated employees, SIA staff, partners and stakeholders for their respective contributions to the airport’s growth over the last two decades, with July 2023 being the first time that the airport had exceeded 500,000 passengers in one month and was looking forward to another memorable milestone of five million passengers before month-end.
Jamaica Highlights 