LMM’s Terminal A opens in March
Ports Authority confirms new facility will house two major airlines, multiple commercial tenants. (Credit: Víctor Román)
The modern facilities of the Luis Muñoz Marín Airport’s Terminal A will be put to use starting in March, when it will open after several delays since construction began in 2006.
Ports Authority Executive Director Alberto Escudero confirmed that both Delta Air Lines and US Air are slated to move into the 300,000 square foot terminal.
The new, $107 million terminal is one of several airport improvement projects announced in 2006, under the Aníbal Acevedo Vilá administration. Back then, Ports said the total cost of the new facilities — including several new restaurants located at the multi-level parking building — would be around $400 million.
Terminal A features five concourses and four baggage claims areas. Because the building has been closed for a while, a number of deficiencies — walls, floors and paint, and bathrooms — are currently being addressed. Furthermore, work is pending on the baggage claims belts, which must be tested for weight tolerance and other performance issues.
At least 11 commercial tenants are in line to move into some 20,000 square-feet of space reserved on the second floor of the Terminal, according to Ports.
The list includes several eateries, namely Crepe Maker, The Coffee Beanery, and Quiznos, as well as a 5,000 square-foot duty free shop and at least two other large restaurants. Green Planet and Perla’s Souvenirs and Things are also on the list of future retailers. Each business will have to design their areas and cover associated costs.
Once Delta and US Air move, Ports will launch a reorganization plan to determine what it will do with the spaces left vacant in Terminal B, Escudero said.
