Stantec completes three airport master plans for Cayman Islands Airports Authority

Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, recently completed the Airports Development Project for the Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA). The project delivers airport master plans for the Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman, Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on Cayman Brac, and a greenfield airport on Little Cayman to replace the Edward Bodden Airfield.

All three airports have seen a significant increase in passenger traffic in recent years, putting stress on airport systems and infrastructure. The airport master plans provide the CIAA with a clear strategic infrastructure development plan for each airport, supported by an outline business case approved by the Cayman Islands Government. In addition, Stantec prepared a functional layout plan for a new general aviation terminal and aircraft apron, heliport, and new marine dock at Owen Roberts International Airport. These enhancements improve the intermodal capabilities while reducing conflicts between general aviation aircraft, helicopters, and commercial aircraft operations.

A plan to address sustainability and resiliency
Located in environmentally sensitive areas, the development planning for all three airports required thoughtful emphasis on sustainability, aimed at balancing environmental objectives in the Cayman Islands and coastal resiliency, while enabling the infrastructure required to support future tourism and business demands.

It was paramount to the CIAA that development plans accommodate future travel demand while respecting the surrounding natural environment. One of the key outcomes was preparing future terminals for each airport by identifying spaces within air terminal footprints that accommodate significant passenger aircraft activity in the peak hours, particularly in peak tourism periods. The runway extension at Owen Roberts International Airport enables new, long-haul traffic direct from overseas markets and the new general aviation terminal and parking apron provide relief to runway and apron capacity issues. These projects, and others, will be completed while preserving mangroves and improving shoreline resiliency, while respecting shoreline turtle nesting sites and other wildlife habitat already scarce on the Islands.

“The Caribbean region continues to see growth as a travel journey point and destination, creating an expanding need to address development that protects its natural local environment,” said Dave Dargie, vice president and aviation leader for airport infrastructure in the Caribbean. “We’re excited to be supporting the Cayman Islands Airports Authority in its long-term vision for the future and its dedication to environmentally conscious airport design.” 

Leader in airport infrastructure
Airports and aviation represent a key market for Stantec. The firm is a leader in airport infrastructure, providing integrated, in-house services for nearly all aspects of airport infrastructure planning, design, and construction. Stantec’s aviation team has extensive experience delivering projects in the Caribbean, including runway rehabilitation and upgrades for the Owen Roberts International Airport and the Grantley Adams International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean. Stantec was also recently named the first ever sole consultant for the St. Thomas and St. Croix Airports. The company also served as the lead designer for the redevelopment of the Lynden Pindling International Airport, an airport dating back to pre-World War II.

Learn more about Airports at Stantec.

About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That’s why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

We care about the communities we serve—because they’re our communities too. This allows us to assess what’s needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what's never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

We’re designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

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Media Contact
Michael Stevens
Stantec Media Relations
Ph: (509) 957-5262
michael.stevens@stantec.com