August 22, 2026

Airports Authority of Jamaica denies runway extension caused seawater ingress in Port Royal

The Airports Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) is refuting assertions that the 300-metre westward extension of the Norman Manley International Airport runway is the cause of seawater ingress or increased water levels in Port Royal.

This, in response to concerns expressed by Member of Parliament for Kingston East and Port Royal, Phillip Paulwell.

In a statement, AAJ says the ongoing project has benefitted from extensive engineering, environmental and hydrodynamic studies and investigations over several years prior to the commencement of execution.

According to the AAJ, there were also regulatory reviews by the relevant authorities including the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to ensure the project’s non-interference with human interests along the coast.

AAJ adds that seawater ingress into Port Royal is not a new phenomenon and has been occurring well before the commencement of the NMIA runway extension project.

Consequently, the ingress ought not to be associated with the current runway extension works at NMIA.

AAJ notes that the structures, works and provisioning for the project do not obstruct, inhibit or interfere with the flow or movement of seawater between any of the contiguous water bodies or with the open sea.

It explains that the physical scale of the extension of the NMIA runway platform compared to the size of Kingston Harbour, also provides an important context.

AAJ says the plan area of Kingston Harbour is approximately 18 square miles, while the plan area of the NMIA runway extension is about zero point one square miles or approximately 0.6 per cent of the total surface area of Kingston Harbour.

It explains further that the fill material used for constructing the runway platform is acquired through dredging of the sea floor within Kingston Harbour near the runway extension site.

Therefore, the net water level in Kingston Harbour is reduced by this process instead of increasing, as is being incorrectly purported.

AAJ says it remains committed to addressing legitimate concerns through objective engineering evidence and established environmental and regulatory principles.

It notes that as a socially and environmentally responsible entity, it commits to continue monitoring this project for environmental safety and technical best practice.