LPIA records almost 6,000 U.S., int’l arrivals

Lynden Pindling International Airport has seen almost 6,000 U.S. and international arrivals since the country’s borders reopened to tourism on July 1, according to information from the Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), which added that domestic arrivals are almost double U.S. arrival numbers.

In July 2019, the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation recorded 133,966 air arrivals into New Providence.

NAD’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications Jan Knowles told Guardian Business that while these recent numbers are far fewer than typical numbers for July, owing to the

coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the muted numbers give the airport a chance to hone the protocols put in place to protect passengers from spreading or contracting the virus.

“While these beginning numbers are less than we what we typically see in July, we are grateful for the continued interest in the destination in what are very difficult travel times for every airport,” said Knowles.

“The lower traffic numbers allow us to test our new procedures and COVID-19 protocols so we are well-positioned to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic in the coming months.”

The numbers provided by NAD and collected between July 1 and July 15, reveal that the airport saw approximately 5,600 U.S. and international arrivals and approximately 4,300 U.S. and international departures.

On the domestic side, between July 1 and July 15, there were approximately 11,600 domestic arrivals and about 13,900 domestic departures.

NAD has put many stringent protocols in place to keep the traveling public safe, including floor markers and signage at check-in areas, security checkpoints, customs and immigration halls and retail and food and beverage spaces to ensure passengers follow proper social distance protocols. Only traveling passengers and airport employees are allowed in terminals.

According to NAD, seating in areas has already been reduced by about 30 percent; stanchions and barriers have been added to limit crowding; and plexiglass barriers are to be installed in check-in halls in Terminal A and Terminal C and at boarding gates.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/2020/07/17/lpia-records-almost-6000-u-s-intl-arrivals/