Ian Fleming International Airport

Previously known as Boscobel Aerodrome, the airport was originally a limited service facility that processed about 20,000{{cite web | url = http://www.sangster-airport.com.jm/domestic.htm | title = Domestic Aerodromes (Western Region) | publisher = Airports Authority of Jamaica | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030417120237/http://www.sangster-airport.com.jm/domestic.htm | archive-date = 17 April 2003}} passengers annually. Boscobel Aerodrome was in operation for over 30 years and had scheduled passenger service provided by local air carriers such as Air Jamaica Express, Jamaica Air Service,{{Cite web |date=July 1, 1965 |title=British West Indian Airways Timetable |url=https://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/bw/bw6507/bw6507-2.jpg |website=Airline Timetable Images}} Jamaica Air Shuttle and Trans Jamaican Airlines which flew small prop and turboprop aircraft such as the Beechcraft 99, Britten-Norman Trislander, de Havilland Heron, and Dornier 228.

Renovations began in early 2009, and the total cost of construction was $300 million (JMD).{{cite web|url=http://www.airport-technology.com/news/news67847.html|title=Jamaica to Convert Boscobel Aerodrome into International Airport|work=airport-technology.com|date=25 October 2009|access-date=30 December 2010|archive-date=17 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217215106/http://www.airport-technology.com/news/news67847.html|url-status=dead}}{{Unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=June 2016}} The new airport was opened on 12 January 2011 by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who said that the intention of the airport was to handle small jets, international arrivals and to attract the high-end tourism market to Jamaica's north coast,{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Ian-Fleming-airport-will-increase-high-end-tourism|title=Ian Fleming airport will increase high end tourism - Latest News|work=Jamaica Observer|access-date=2011-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113173620/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Ian-Fleming-airport-will-increase-high-end-tourism|archive-date=2011-01-13|url-status=dead}} including Ocho Rios, Oracabessa, and Port Antonio. Also present for the opening was Ian Fleming's niece, Lucy Fleming, and Goldeneye's current owner, Chris Blackwell.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The new airport welcomed its first international flight on 7 May 2010 (eight months prior to its official opening) when a single-engine Pilatus PC-12 turboprop flew in from the Bahamas with singer-songwriter and businessman Jimmy Buffett, of "Margaritaville" fame,{{cite web|url=http://www.buffettworld.com/2010/05/10/more-photos-from-jimmys-flight-to-jamaica-last-week/|title=More Photos from Jimmy's Flight to Jamaica Last Week » Jimmy Buffett World|work=buffettworld.com}} being the first international passenger to be processed by customs and immigration officers at the facility.{{cite web |title=Jimmy Buffet[sic], Boscobel Aerodrome's First Passenger|date=May 10, 2010 |url=http://www.jis.gov.jm/MYSC/html/20100510T090000-0500_23865_JIS_JIMMY_BUFFET__BOSCOBEL_AERODROME_S_FIRST_PASSENGER.asp |access-date=September 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513015025/http://www.jis.gov.jm/MYSC/html/20100510T090000-0500_23865_JIS_JIMMY_BUFFET__BOSCOBEL_AERODROME_S_FIRST_PASSENGER.asp |archive-date=May 13, 2010 }}{{cite web |url= http://www.jtbonline.org/Lists/Industry%20News%20%20Facts/DispForm.aspx?ID=716&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ejtbonline%2Eorg%2FLists%2FIndustry%2520News%2520%2520Facts%2FAllItems%2Easpx |title= Industry News & Facts: GETTING IN AND AROUND JAMAICA IS EASIER |work= JTBonline |publisher= Jamaica Tourist Board |access-date= 31 December 2010 |quote= On 2011 January 12, Jamaica will see the opening of its third international airport - The Ian Fleming International Airport. |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110726211927/http://www.jtbonline.org/Lists/Industry%20News%20%20Facts/DispForm.aspx?ID=716&Source=http:%2F%2Fwww.jtbonline.org%2FLists%2FIndustry%20News%20%20Facts%2FAllItems.aspx |archive-date= 26 July 2011 |url-status= dead |df= dmy-all }}

The renaming of the airport was controversial, with some locals feeling that a prominent Jamaican should have been honoured in preference to the British Ian Fleming.{{cite news|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Storm-over-airport-name_8311582|title=Storm over airport name|last=Edwards|first=Alesia|date=2011-01-23|work=Jamaica Observer|publisher=Jamaica Observer Limited|access-date=23 January 2011|location=Kingston, Jamaica|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110125002843/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Storm-over-airport-name_8311582|archive-date=25 January 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Prime Minister Golding acknowledged the controversy in his remarks at the opening of the airport. He explained that Ian Fleming gave Jamaica "an image much larger than it would otherwise have had", and that this was the place where the creativity emerged that enabled him to write 13 James Bond novels, and to become one of the world's most famous authors.{{cite web|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110114/news/news1.html |title=Ian Fleming airport a strategic decision - PM |publisher=Jamaica Gleaner |date=2011-01-14 |access-date=2015-05-19}}

On 31 March 2022, American Airlines announced that it would begin non-stop flights from Miami to the airport on 5 November 2022, under its American Eagle regional brand. The flights, designated Flight 4007, mark the first by a US airline to the airport.[https://www.caribjournal.com/2022/03/31/american-airlies-jamaica-ocho-rios-flights/ American Airlines Is Launching Flights to Ocho Rios, Jamaica] However, the route was postponed until further notice due to American's request that additional Air Navigation Aids be provided at the airport.{{cite web | url=https://fl360aero.com/detail/why-did-american-airlines-postpone-it-s-ambitious-northern-jamaica-flight-plans-from-miami/1068 | title=Why did American Airlines postpone its ambitious Northern Jamaica flight plans from Miami?}} In October 2023, American announced that flights would begin to the airport on 24 February 2024.{{cite web |title= Airport joy|url= https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2023/10/21/airport-joy/ |website=Jamaica Observer|date= 22 October 2023 |access-date=21 February 2024}}

The Ian Fleming International Airport is at an elevation of {{Convert|90|ft|abbr=on}} above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 09/27 with an asphalt surface measuring {{Convert|4769|x|79|ft|abbr=on|0}}. The airport is designed to handle private and commercial aircraft as large as the Cessna Citation Excel.{{cite web|url=http://www.eturbonews.com/19638/third-international-airport-open-jamaica|title=Ian Flemming International Airport Third international airport to open in Jamaica - eTurboNews.com|work=eturbonews.com|access-date=2010-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317231520/http://www.eturbonews.com/19638/third-international-airport-open-jamaica|archive-date=2012-03-17|url-status=dead}} The airport features a modern terminal, landing lights, fire truck garage and a fuelling station.{{cite news |url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091022/business/business4.html |title=New International Airport for Boscobel |date=October 22, 2009 |access-date=December 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025031646/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091022/business/business4.html |archive-date=October 25, 2009 |publisher=Jamaica Gleaner }} Passenger amenities include customs and immigration services, a passenger lounge, and pilot briefing rooms.

{{Airport destination list

| American Eagle | Miami

| InterCaribbean Airways | Providenciales{{cn|date=December 2024}}

}}

The following table shows the number of passengers using the airport annually from 1997 through 2001.{{needs update|date=December 2024}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.ifia.aero/ Official website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180815050142/http://www.airportsauthorityjamaica.aero/ourairports/index.php#boscobel Airports Authority of Jamaica page]
• [http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=18.404167&lon=-76.968889&z=16&l=0&m=b&v=8 Aerial view]
• {{ASN|OCJ}}

{{Portalbar|Jamaica|Aviation}}

{{Airports in Jamaica}}

{{Ian Fleming}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Airports in Jamaica

Category:Buildings and structures in Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica

Category:Ian Fleming