A new state-of-the-art passenger terminal building has officially opened at Bermuda’s LF Wade International Airport following a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by airport leaders and local dignitaries.
The new 288,000ft2 (26,700m2 ) facility provides 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 and beverage outlets, and covered passenger jet bridges.
Speaking at the opening on December 9, Aaron Adderley, president, Bermuda Skyport, which operates the airport, said, “With the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) and prime contractors Aecon, we were able to find a turn-key solution, bespoke in nature, that afforded Bermuda the opportunity to do what many small airports in the world our size have found difficult to do – namely, to successfully attract private sector investment to finance a major capital redevelopment.
“Once again, Bermuda has blazed a trail in setting new standards internationally for others to follow. While the project’s business model has proven innovative, its economic impacts have proven to be widespread. Nearly 400 local businesses have been contracted since the start of the project and nearly US$400m has been invested in the local economy. Over half of the 1.6 million man-hours spent constructing this world-class facility were by Bermuda’s own men and women. We should be proud of their quality craftmanship.”
The new terminal enables Bermuda to comply with the latest, most-advanced US facility requirements for Pre-Clearance. Pre-Clearance allows for USA-bound passengers to clear US Customs and Immigration in Bermuda, instead of on arrival in the USA 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 USA.
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 man-hours. Additionally, the project engaged almost 400 Bermudian companies, vendors and suppliers in what became an extraordinary collaboration of local and international efforts.
Ernie Briard, interim president and CEO of CCC, said, “The new terminal not only helps to showcase Bermuda’s unique identity, its development is part of the unfolding story of the people of this extraordinary island and their aspirations for economic prosperity. We are grateful to Skyport and the Bermuda Airport Authority for placing their trust in Aecon and CCC to lead an enterprise of such national importance.”
Watch a video showcasing the new passenger terminal here.
