AAJ - Airports Authority of Jamaica

Established in 1974 under the “Airports Authority Act” as an independent statutory body, with initial responsibility (ownership and management) for the nation’s two international airports; namely Norman Manley International Airport and Sangster International Airport.

In 1990, Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) took on the additional responsibility for the island’s four domestic aerodromes, namely; Tinson Pen in Kingston, Ken Jones in Portland, and Boscobel in St Mary and Negril in Westmoreland.   Since its inception AAJ has worked diligently to fulfil its principal mandate of developing and operating a safe and secure airport system for Jamaica. For several years now AAJ has been adjusting structurally, in keeping with the Government’s airport privatization policy.

In April 2003, AAJ divested the operational responsibility for (but not the ownership of), the Sangster International Airport (SIA) to MBJ Airports Limited, a private sector operator, under a 30-year Concession Agreement with the AAJ. In October 2003, NMIA Airports Limited, having been incorporated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAJ, commenced operation of the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA), also under a 30-year Concession Agreement with the AAJ.  Plans are actively underway for this airport to be privatized.

In fiscal year 2010/2011 the Boscobel Aerodrome was upgraded to an international airport with border control services and renamed the Ian Fleming International Airport (IFIA), thereby positioning it as the country’s international general aviation airport.