AVIATION OPERATIONS
> LUIS MUÑOZ MARIN NTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport serves as the air transportation hub for the entire Caribbean region, with more than 30 domestic and international airlines. Over 10.2 million passengers passed through the airport in fiscal year 2004, which represented an increase of 8.3 percent, or an additional 785,014 passengers, in comparison to fiscal year 2003. At the same time, some 550,220,370 pounds of cargo were moved through the airport during fiscal year 2004, representing an increase of 1.8 percent or over 9,550,859 pounds from the year before.
Through 2008, the Ports Authority is committed to investing $234.5 million in a variety of infrastructure projects and in marketing efforts designed to provide innovative amusement and commercial options both for passengers and visitors at the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport.
Several projects are planned, which will increase the efficiency and security of the airport, as well as expand its capacity in handling both cargo and passengers alike. These include:
Rehabilitation and expansion of Terminal B; including a command center. The $33.3 million project includes the construction of three gates, expansion of Connectors B and C, and the rehabilitation of the Terminal.
Construction of a new Terminal Building A.
A $48.1 million expansion of the Dual Midfield Taxiway.
A $6 million extension to Taxiway Sierra.
A $8 million new north cargo area.
In addition, as set forth in the agency's Capital Improvement Program 2003-2008, the Authority will provide the funding for the following infrastructure projects:
$5 million for the dredging of piers 15 and 16 located in Isla Grande.
$282,500 for improvements to the sanitary sewer system in the Port of Mayagüez.
$1 million in the Port of Guayanilla and $2 million at the Port of Guanica for dredging works.
$300,000 for asbestos removal from a warehouse and construction of a new roof at the Port of Arecibo.
Passenger movement in regional airports reached 648,296 passengers which represented an increase of 15.1 percent from the previous year; mostly from a 61 percent increase in passenger movement at the Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla.
