New Airport Terminal Will Open On December 9
“The new, purpose-built Airport Terminal will officially open for operations on December 9, 2020,” it has been announced.
“Skyport, Aecon, the Canadian Commercial Corporation [CCC] and the Bermuda Airport Authority today announced that Substantial Completion has been achieved on Bermuda’s new Airport Terminal Facility at the LF Wade International Airport,” the announcement said.
Aaron Adderley, President, Bermuda Skyport, says: “Achieving this milestone would not have been possible without the dedicated construction personnel who have proudly and tirelessly worked on the site for the past three and half years and to whom we extend our sincere appreciation.
“Over the past six months, the workforce, a majority of which were Bermudian, remained focused even during a global pandemic and two hurricanes. The near $300 million terminal, built with expert craftmanship, by Bermudians and owned by Bermudians, will help foster an enhanced traveller experience for generations to come.”
A spokesperson said, “The new, purpose-built Airport Terminal will officially open for operations on December 9, 2020. The 288,000 square foot facility will provide for improved passenger processing; increased passenger capacity; greater resilience to extreme weather conditions; modern amenities and infrastructure; greater energy efficiencies; enhanced security; enhanced specialty retail and food & beverage outlets; and covered, passenger jet bridges.”
Lester Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of the Bermuda Airport Authority, said, “The Airport Authority, as the owner of the LF Wade International Airport, is very pleased this complex project has achieved substantial completion in a year that has had many challenges.
“The Authority appreciates the hard work and collaboration by all those involved in the project including the Airport Authority’s team and technical advisor, Stantec, Skyport, Aecon, CCC, construction workers and Government Stakeholders.”
A spokesperson added, “The new terminal will also enable Bermuda to comply with the latest, most-advanced U.S. facility requirements for Pre-Clearance. Pre-Clearance allows for U.S. bound passengers to clear U.S. Customs and Immigration in Bermuda, instead of on arrival in the U.S. where longer lines often exist.
“This service, present in Bermuda for nearly 50 years, is extremely beneficial to passengers and provides the island with a competitive advantage when seeking new air services to and from the United States.
“There were 885 Bermudians who worked on the site over the course of the airport redevelopment project, which began in March 2017 and a total of 1.6 million construction manhours. Additionally, the project engaged almost 400 Bermudian companies, vendors and suppliers in what became an extraordinary collaboration of local and international efforts.”
Steve Nackan, President, Aecon Concessions, the project’s developer and financier, says: “The Aecon team is proud to have worked alongside so many talented Bermudians to deliver this world-class airport for Bermuda.
“Completing construction on this critical infrastructure project is a remarkable accomplishment and we thank the Government of Bermuda, the Canadian Commercial Corporation, our lenders and all the individuals that have contributed to this success. We are a proud investor in Bermuda – in this critical infrastructure project, but also through ongoing social investments to positively impact Bermuda’s economy.”
Ernie Briard, Interim President & CEO of CCC, highlights: “This is an important milestone in the shared history between our two countries. We are grateful to the people of Bermuda and the Bermuda Airport Authority for placing their trust in Aecon and CCC.
“The people of Bermuda will soon have a modern international airport that reflects their identity and their aspirations for economic prosperity. The Government of Canada, through CCC, is extremely proud to have partnered with the Government of Bermuda in this critical infrastructure endeavour, and we know that our friendship has been formidably strengthened throughout this project.”
“The completion – a critical milestone, allowed for the next phase of the project to commence earlier this month which involves operational trials and testing of integrated airport systems to ensure the facility is ready to welcome passengers for opening day.”
What is the next large construction project about to begin, or will all these workers be facing unemployment?
“The near $300 million terminal, built with expert craftmanship, by Bermudians and owned by Bermudians …”
No, no, no! The PLP Government has told us time an again how the OBA gave the airport to the Canadians. How dare you contradict the PLP Government, Aaron Adderley!
“Lester Nelson, Chief Executive Officer of the Bermuda Airport Authority, said, “The Airport Authority, as the owner of the LF Wade International Airport, is very pleased this complex project has achieved substantial completion in a year that has had many challenges.”
Mr. Nelson, I don’t know you but I suggest you start looking for a new job if you are going to openly defy the PLP Government like that.
So if the official open date is Dec 9 why did we have to pay extra millions for guarantees back in September? Surely the guarantee should only start once the new airport was deemed accepted by Bermuda and fully operational???
You are “confused”, because “we” didn’t pay extra millions. *sigh*.
Do we need to go through this again so you understand?
We are paying 5 million every quarter for the airport and 185 million plus for Morgan’s Junk Hotel thanks to the obaubp 6 party!
Did you decided which party your voting for next election?
FDM or PLP either way the obaubp is DEAD!
You do know you’d be losing much more than $5m every quarter if we hadn’t gone down this route? And, you have the added benefit of a new airport.
You should also read up on Morgan’s Point.
Not enough space here to list the billions of mis-management “projects” by the PLP… but vanity concert for Dr Brown (2 million) , Dame Lois Evans Building, Berkley, Port Royal (a whopping 20 mill unaccounted for!) the Hospital wing contract which they will not let anyone see…. that’s just off the top of my head…
How much are we paying for the hospital? Oh right, we don’t know…transparency doesn’t exist with the PLP.
How’s that appeal to your overloards at the Privey council? Have those British guys told you chumps what you’re allowed to do yet?
How many foreigners worked on the airport, there is not a balance in statistics, were there 800 of them? versus 885 Bermudians?
Make a request to the Minister under PATI. I am sure the Minister will comply with the law.
I can ONLY imagine the speech that will be given by whichever PLP leader. “This project provided blah blah number of jobs and came in on time, blah blah”.
Will the OBA be invited like the PLP Opposition were invited to the new hospital wing opening? I doubt it. Hey, maybe there should just be a protest at the opening just to remind the country how much of a drain this project was/is/will be.
Should we just build useless buildings to fulfill employment for people or should we make sense and utilize what we have and do more maintenance.??.
Some people had to find new careers or jobs because their livelyhood is not sustainable, we already have hotel going up now and for what? no tourists.. It will be a matter of survival and learning to do different things to bring in income.
We cannot just build for the sake of jobs when the building will serve no useful purpose.
Lots of rooftops need painting, and houses need maintaining.
Now my issue with that statement that was released ( an it ain’t all political-sized ). The man said the airport was “purpose built.” Yes he did!! Hmmm but he ain’t said what de purpose is? Like what other purpose is an airport gonna have? Ain’t no puzzle really? It would be something if that made made off saying “Yep, umm…ahh…We’ve just spent a long time and lotsa money and we got this thing out by the ol’ airport. But we’re having a contest to see what we should do with it!” Purpose built! Or we ‘accidentally built’ this big shiny new thing?? Over three-four years and 300-400million dollars. Oops!
That’s it.