After seeing the topic about Antigua airport, share with us your favourite airport.
– What facilities are on offer?
– Airlines flying there?
– Movements per day?
You get the idea. If you can post a photo of the airport, that would be brilliant!
Sangster International (Montego Bay), Jamaica
My chosen airport is Sangster International Airport (Montego Bay), Jamaica.
Sangster International Airport is named after Donald Sangster (not sure who he was but his photos are pasted all over the walls of the terminal). It is the hub of Air Jamaica, too. This is one of very few airlines whose hub is not in the country’s capital city.
In 2001, Montego Bay saw 3,000,000 passengers passing through the airport. 28% of the movements were cargo flights.
The airport deals with domestic flights of Air Jamaica Express as well as South American and North American Airlines. European airlines include Martinair, Lufthansa and British Airways. Being a major holiday destination, many charters fly into the country including Monarch and MyTravel of the UK.
The airport is not incredibly big but handles A340s and 777s every day. On average, an aircraft was landing every 5-10 minutes while I was there with many of the flights being Air Jamaica A320s from neighbouring countries.
A single runway is used by the airport (7 & 25) with the majority of flights departing and arriving on runway 7. This runway is 2,539 metres in length and 45 metres in width.
There is space for 24 aircraft at the airport; 14 of these are for international flights. 4 of these can handle 747 aircraft and the remaining 10, up to DC-8(?) sized aircraft.
The airport is open all day every day.
Inside, check-in is split up into different airlines with Air Jamaica obviously dominating the check-in halls. From check-in, you proceed to security which is small, thorough and efficient. The departure lounges have plenty of shops, with some even selling souvenir marijuana. There is plenty of viewing spots from the huge windows and other such areas. There is an Internet cafe also available in the terminal.
Landing at Montego Bay is brilliant with all flights flying at incredibly low altitude over the Caribbean Sea as they approach runway 7. To your right is the beautiful beaches and to your left, miles and miles of clear blue sea.
Also, one more thing before I shut up, Sandals Montego Bay can be found to the right of runway 25. Hardly the best location for a 5* hotel!
By: Hand87_5 - 2nd May 2003 at 20:50
We have LGB love in common mate 🙂
By: BigredMD-11 - 2nd May 2003 at 20:45
I like LGB. It’s a nice mix of Private, Commercial & the C-17 building. 3 Airlines operate out of there, American Airlines, JetBlue, & America West. Can’t forget the 717 building. I enjoyed driving by when they were building the MD-11(my favorite bird). I like LAX too, I used to work there in the Bradley Terminal(ramp tramp). I loaded British Airways, Cathay Pacific, LTU(767-300ER), Japan Airlines(747-2,-3,-4, MD-11), Korean Air, TowerAir(when it flew), Philippines(747-4F6, MD-11, A340-300), NCA Cargo, Cathay Cargo, Aerolineas Argentinas(A340-300).
By: Airigami - 25th April 2003 at 20:30
Washington National (DCA). Phenomenal approach over Washington landmarks (i.e., Pentagon, White House, Capitol Building, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial) which is added to by the dramatic twisting and turning of the aircraft as it follows the path of the Potomac River.
Also, the airport is very central and easily accessible by the Metro system (subway). Also, the new terminal is very modern and user-friendly with great views of the ramp even from the public areas.
By: Saab 2000 - 25th April 2003 at 19:12
That “shack” is a disgrace to tourism on the island. Hardly adequate anymore considering you have Aurigny and Le Cocqs.
By: wysiwyg - 25th April 2003 at 19:05
Alderney – just for the communal knitting!
By: Saab 2000 - 25th April 2003 at 18:34
I will give GCI and JER a good word. GCI is quaint (new terminal on the way) quiet yet friendly, good viewing as well. JER is very modern and large yet remains of quite a high standard with good facilities and a mantains a very spacious atmosphere. 
By: dcfly - 25th April 2003 at 17:10
Schipol is definately my favourite followed by Dusseldorf, both airports are spacious and airy with good spotting and good facilties
In the UK LGW and BHX get my vote
Saab, I agree with about CDG, good variation of traffic, but the terminals are terrible.
Dave
By: EGNM - 25th April 2003 at 15:45
Can i just add that i was extreamly impressed with Liverpools (LPL) new terminal from my only visit – very modern, clean and airey, and steadily becoming busier!
By: skycruiser - 25th April 2003 at 13:26
Hong Kong, by far.
By: cbstd - 25th April 2003 at 02:27
LIH (Lihue, Hawaii) is my favorite becasue it is the airport for my favorite place on earth, the Island of Kauaii. This is the tropical island where they filmed Jurasic Park and Raiders of the Lost Arc.
LIH is a small airport, no jetways and the waiting areas are open to the tropical breezes. There is something sterile and impersonal about a modern airpoprt with jetways, you never really get the impression that you are boarding a plane, just walking down a tube to sit in another tube. I love the smell of Av Fuel and walking along the ground and looking up to my aircraft.
Scott
By: greekdude1 - 25th April 2003 at 02:16
Hand, once again, props for you giving the Cali airports some love, you too Comet. LAX is a pretty good airport, on all fronts. They did lots of refurbishing and beautifying in recent years, and it has helped tremendously. I’ve always like SFO as well, and my cousin loves LGB. T5, as far as Sangster goes? I didn’t enjoy checking in on my outbound. Then again, I did fly AirJamaica and their check in queues were absolutely chaotic. I’ve never seen such utter disorganization at any airport. There were no queues, just blobs going towards the designated desks for a particular destination. Even the facilities were very lacking. But you liked it so hey, good on you. Other than the aforementioned Cali airports, I loved Changi. Everything was just amazing. The aircraft on example, the decor, the facilities, the duty-free shopping, the outdoor smoking area (even though I don’t smoke), etc. I also like Sydney for all the aforementioned (except the smoking area), but especially for the Tarmac tours and ‘the beach’ spotting area. I also like Schipol, Dulles, new ATH, and a few others. I just mentioned the ones I really like.
By: Comet - 24th April 2003 at 09:00
There are many airports I’ve enjoyed using. LHR – for the sheer range of airlines and types (inc Concorde), LAX – excellent for viewing and photography and for seeing airlines you won’t see in the UK, HEL – for ease of photography and the best airport sandwich I’ve ever had (smoked salmon – gorgeous), LCY – a wonderful little gem of an airport, great fun on the approach which gives superb views of London landmarks whilst providing some extremely sharp turns whilst descending, Isafjordur in Iceland for the same reasons as LCY. My dear favourite is BRU. I cannot give numbers of airlines using it, but I think the dominant airline is SN Brussels Airlines. In the departure area, viewing is unrivalled, there is a good range of shops, good range of restaurants. Like most airports, the check in area is on the ground floor, departures, restaurants and shops on the first floor. There are three sections to the terminal, called Topaz, Sapphire and Diamond. A new pier has just been opened with more restaurants and shops. I am sorry I won’t be using it this year.
By: Hand87_5 - 24th April 2003 at 08:44
Geographically : ORY , I live next to it.
sentimentally : SFO, LAX , LGB
The most impressive : ATL
By: theplane - 24th April 2003 at 08:28
i actually rather like schiphol…. though arlanda (stockholm) isn’t too bad…i ahte LHR tho….i guess it must be cause it’s always so chaotic….but that’s just my taste….
By: KabirT - 24th April 2003 at 06:07
Originally posted by monster500
Copenhagen for me, it has excellent facilities and its well designed.
totally agreed there…has to be Kastrup, Copenhagen. For its facilities and sheer charecter.
By: mongu - 24th April 2003 at 00:58
I never would have guessed at Copenhagen, but it does look quite different and pleasant judging from the pic.
I could be boring and say Changi, but I’ll risk defeating the object by plumping for a former airport – Kai Tak.
By: monster500 - 24th April 2003 at 00:40
Copenhagen for me, it has excellent facilities and its well designed.
By: T5 - 24th April 2003 at 00:15
Dan,
I “borrowed” that photo off of the internet, it was taken the month after we were there! But while we were there it was absolutely perfect weather!
I do like Gatwick. I recently experienced my first North Terminal flight for a very long time. It’s not a bad terminal although not a patch on the South Terminal where everything is slightly more compact. We are more frequent visitors to Gatwick South.
I seem to be flying out of Heathrow more and more these days – terminal 1 and terminal 3. I have to say, I hate terminal 3 immensely. It is aimed at the upper class shop-wise with all these incredibly expensive jewellry shops and seafood bars – so not my style! :p
By: dan330 - 23rd April 2003 at 23:11
Have to agree that ACE is one of the best abroad. If you stay fairly local you can have a pretty relaxing week with some good aircraft to spot.
Terminal is looking better now as well and the addition of a few Air Bridges is a good thing. Can get a bit crowded on a Thursday though!
By: EGNM - 23rd April 2003 at 23:00
Dan – RE Manchy – agreed – its the best in the UK for what it has to offer – Viewing, variety, and access.
But personally Lanzarote Arrecife. Ok yes i was there last week BUT this is based on a couple of visits
It has the best Approach overflight paths (over ya head terms!), second only to Princes Juiliana – i was the only person not to move out of the way for the low flying Iberia B752 and Britannia B763 – Awesome.
Variety – charter airlines from every part of europe. I noted British, French, German, Italian, Swiss, Polish, Czech, Swedish, Dutch and Dansih reggies during my visits. Excellent photography, a walkway all the way along the side of the only runway 03/21 – and a great climate to watch it all go on with!
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April 23, 2003 at 6:10 pm