Restrictions at Airport Result In Major Delays

Several flights into and out of the John A Osborne Airport were affected by delays and cancellations due to wet weather conditions on Montserrat last weekend.

The situation deteriorated on Sunday January 19th, 2020 when passengers had their flights delayed for up to eight hours, causing travelers to miss their connecting flights to other destinations, and some having to overnight in Antigua.

ZJB News was informed that the first flight departed Montserrat on Sunday afternoon around 3 o’clock. While on its way to Antigua, the pilot was advised that due to adverse weather conditions in the area, the V.C Bird International Airport had to be closed. The aircraft returned to Montserrat and given the clearance to land in Antigua some time later.

Several SVG flights were also affected by the closure of the runway. While the airline operated a medical evacuation or Medivac service to Barbuda in the morning, its first commercial flight was carried out around 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon.

Flights into and out of Montserrat are prohibited from landing once the runway at the John A Osborne Airport is wet. The restriction was imposed by the Governor who has responsibility for air safety, shortly after a Fly Montserrat aircraft went off the runway in September last year.

An investigation into that incident was conducted by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) which is expected to produce a report identifying the cause of the accident.

An Aeronautical study on the John Air Osborne Airport in 2015 proposed a number of recommendations for adjustments and improvements to ensure the airports compliance with federal aviation regulations. As a result, the Government of Montserrat has received funding under the Capital Investment Programme for Resilient Growth (CIPREG) for a Runway Resurfacing Project which will seek to rectify, among other problems, maintenance issues associated with the declining skid resistance results of the Airport runway.

Minister responsible for aviation, the Honourable Dr. Samuel Joseph informed the public last month that the technical consultancy component of that project is moving head. In an update Friday Minister Joseph said his government was fully aware of the inconvenience being caused to travelers.