Sources familiar with the development have indicated that it may take a “miracle” for a multi-million-dollar hangar construction project to be completed within the next two months. However, once finished, employment at COMO Laucala Island is expected to rise.
The tourism operator’s project at Nadi has faced multiple delays, with various “Coming Soon” dates since construction began and stopped several times. Although the luxury lounge at Nadi International Airport has opened, the hangar is now slated to open by the end of this year.
The new hangar will enhance the travel experience for guests transitioning to and from Kokomo Private Island. According to COMO Laucala Island, international arrivals will be welcomed at an information desk in the arrivals area and then escorted to the luxury lounge, where they can enjoy refreshments, entertainment, a family playroom, and shower facilities after long flights. Guests departing will also benefit from the lounge while awaiting their flights out of Fiji.
The hold-up in the hangar’s opening can be attributed, in part, to a faulty batch of concrete used on the connecting apron, which necessitated excavation and replacement.
To summarize the timeline:
– 2019: Announcement of COMO Laucala Island’s $45 million luxury lounge and hangar facility.
– 2022: A stop order was issued for construction at the Nadi site.
– 2023: The stop order was lifted.
Laucala Island is renowned as a high-end destination, attracting wealthy visitors, according to Trade Minister Manoa Kamikamica, who pointed out that the delays in the hangar’s construction are related to “bottlenecks” in the investment sector.
COMO Laucala Island is a private resort in Fiji that features an airstrip for private planes and 25 luxurious villas. The facility currently operates three aircraft.