But correcting these flaws is going
to be a costly exercise.

Minister of Tourism Noel Lynch said yesterday that the Government was moving to tackle rain-related and other problems about which people had been complaining.

A canopy that was too short and allowed rain to get into one section
of the check-in area would be extended, according to Lynch. The concrete roof section, which has a number of cracks through which the rain seeps, would
also be sealed.

And four passenger bridges would
be established so travellers could access the terminal building from their aircraft, or vice-versa, without being exposed
to the elements, Lynch reported.

However, the airport has already rejected quotations on the bridges that came in late last year as being overpriced, at an average of $32 million, Lynch reported.

He made the comments while speaking on a bill providing for killing birds and other animals that pose
a danger to aircraft in the air and
on the tarmac of the airport.

Putting the cost of the recent expansion of the airport at a total
of $155 million, Lynch said, "You don't expect to spend this type of money and to have issues related to leakage
and the like at the airport."

The cost of extending the canopy area was estimated at $1.5 million. Tenders were being put out for the work, according to Lynch.

He added: "It is also going to be
a costly solution."

He also reported that an area built as an open courtyard and "never intended to be covered" would be partly covered because of criticisms of people getting wet moving between the arrivals
and departure halls. (TY)