On Tuesday, September 29, 2009, a cutting ribbon ceremony and a groundbreaking ceremony were held simultaneously at the airport to commemorate the completion of additional loading bridges and concourse at the airport’s main terminal; and to initiate the official start of a further improvement project, which is the construction of a secondary apron at the opposite side of the main terminal for non commercial flights.
According to Brain Melairei, manager of the Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) office, the airport now has 3 jet ways that makes it possible for 3 aircrafts to dock at the main terminal to load and off load passengers. The secondary apron that would be added to the opposite side of the terminal would make it possible for noncommercial crafts to land without congesting the airport.The loading bridges and concourse project cost $2.7 million. The project was contracted to Surangel and Sons Company and began on December 2007. The secondary apron project will cost $6.5 million and has also been contracted to Surangel and Sons Company and is expected to be completed by October 2010.According to Melarei, the amount of funding, since 2004 to present, that Palau has received from the United States Government to improve the airport– including the funds for the secondary apron – is $35 million plus.Melarei said that his office has received word that an additional $10 million has been approved to fund further improvements of the airport.During his remarks for both of the ceremonies, President Johnson Toribiong said that he and the people of Palau are grateful and appreciative of the funding and support that the United States of America has bestowed to Palau. Further, he congratulated everyone for ensuring that the improvements projects have run smoothly and that the efforts of individuals, the projects have been completed or have been initiated.
