Preliminary work has commenced on the development of a 300-space parking facility at the Owen Roberts International Airport which will be located to the east of the terminal.
The Cayman Islands Airports Authority, which operates Owen Roberts, announced in a press release on Monday that the facility will include a modern parking-management system and enhanced lighting to ensure safety and convenience for all customers.
“We have cleared the land, allowing us to assess the current conditions and see what we are working with,” the Airports Authority told the Compass, adding, “This will enable us to complete the design and plans.”
The next step will be to ask for bids for the construction, the authority said.
The shortage of parking spaces at the airport has been a longstanding complaint, especially after changes were made to the operation of the short-term parking lot and the restriction on kerbside drop-off outside the terminal launched back in 2022.
On long weekends and holidays, often drivers utilise the sides of the road and empty lots near the airport to wait to pick up arriving passengers or to park when travelling.
The CIAA said in its statement that the current airport parking facilities have reached full capacity, especially on weekends, “making it challenging to accommodate the growing number of passengers efficiently”.
It said the new parking facility will alleviate congestion and provide convenient, accessible parking to better serve the travelling public.
“Additionally, the new parking lot will significantly improve the overall efficiency of airport parking operations, ensuring a seamless and world-class experience,” the CIAA said.
Minister for Tourism and Ports Kenneth Bryan said the project “is a significant step forward in our commitment to enhancing the travel experience for our passengers”.
He said local customers will no longer have to worry about parking availability during peak periods.
“The additional parking facility will greatly improve convenience and accessibility, ensuring that our airport continues to provide the highest standard of service. We look forward to welcoming our customers to this state-of-the-art facility in the near future,” Bryan said.
The new parking facility, the statement said, will also accommodate airport stakeholders, including employees from airlines, ground-handling service providers and other airport partners.
CIAA board chairman Johann Moxam, in the release, said developing a new long-term parking facility at Owen Roberts “is a vital enhancement to our nation’s primary gateway. As travel to and from the Cayman Islands continues to grow, ensuring that our infrastructure can accommodate that growth is crucial.”
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