What is happening with the awarding of airport concessions at the new Owen Roberts International Airport? Bids were submitted in June last year and awards were due to be made in August. The silence has been deafening ever since. Can you clarify?
Auntie’s answer: I have been unable to get all the details you requested but I can give you a bit of information. At a press conference Wednesday, 9 May, the CEO of the Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA), Albert Anderson, spoke briefly on the issue of the concessions to be granted at Owen Roberts (for the full report, see Authority can cover airport overruns).
For now, all I can tell you is that the CIAA will be deciding “soon” about the awarding of the concessions and will be meeting with the selected businesses in the coming weeks. If any specifics come my way, I will share those with you.
I don’t really miss the duty free on the CI side…I just hope there are plans for a professional airport lounge going in, like a Priority Pass/Sir Turtle or Admiral’s Club. Proper lounge seating, a pay-to-play bar, a Bloomberg terminal, soundproof kid annex…it would slay.
DOT/CIAA should commission the Northward wood workers to build a few dozen rocking chairs like at CLT. A cheap, and easy way to boost overall airport experience, while tying in to Cayman’s casual land-that-time-forgot island vibe.
Speaking of the Airport and Duty-free shops . Do we see who is going to have those concessions ? I believe that they would be people like Mr Dart . And do we see what these Politicians has turned the Island into . Then if we let them build a cruise ship pier . Do you think that any little Caymanian with a house mortgage and a little Toyota bus would be able to make a $ from the pier ? NO NO . The same thing would happen at pier as happening at Airport . Going gone to the highest bidder .
Then didn’t the government do something with ownership law , that would prevent a Caymanian from being able to be a partnership to have allowed him to be in the bidding race ?
Dart will own the Toyota buses soon.
I’d suggest a 1980s themed shop to go with the design of the airport.
Visiting Cayman this week. Will be back in July. For years I take my limit of airport duty free Havana Club, not available in US. Was informed at a local liquor store this week the airport stores will not be open till November. As a regular visitor for 18 years, while I love the airport renovation, stored should have been maintained. So disappointed.
What a loser. Get a life, buddy. And learn about decent rum too.
What on earth was your reason to insult this person? Why be so rude? Would you say that to his face?
John Lin , no he wouldn’t, and he doesn’t known good rum either. When you can drink that rum in Cuba anytime of the day , that says alot about it.
What is the problem? Go buy it at a liquor store and put it in your luggage! Wrap you underwear around it for protection.
Okay Tortuga please give us all a break, you will have a spot for rum cakes…
But not on Sundays
From what I understand, the cost for a concession is so price prohibitive that only the bigger wealthier companies from overseas are able to afford a spot. (Thanks Canada)
So people, look forward to higher costs at the ‘duty free’ shops in the departure lounge.
You folks should look into providing duty free upon entry as well. That way you can get the $$ that would normally be spent at MIA duty free. This is done in other countries who are forward thinking. Clever, eh!
It’s a shame the designers and architects of the new airport didn’t travel around checking other international airports. From the looks of it, they only went to Haiti.. or other 3rd world countries for ideas.
Even Cuba has a nicer entry to their large airport!
In case you were unaware they happen to be in the middle of a renovation so that could explain the look of the airport right now. As well if you are unable to read signs they clearly they say that duty free will be available soon within the arrivals area of the airport.
Smarty pants. I was referring to the portions that have been completed. And no, I did not see signs anywhere clearly stating that duty free will soon be available in the arrivals area. That’s excellent news. Thanks jerk.
What else do you expect from an uncaring, unfriendly, and corrupt culture? What for it. Airport taxes as soon as it is finished.
Take a closer look at your plane tickets – Cayman’s passengers are already paying some of the highest airport taxes in the hemisphere. CAL continues to forget to pass those along to CIAA, and the CIG, with our money, bails them out every 2-4 years with a $10mln off-budget cross from other departments.
Do us all a favor and go live in Cuba or Haiti.
Ooow A little touchy are we? Or are you one of the architects? If so, you do not have much imagination.