Kingston airport operator Packal, Dawkins Brown at odds over flight firm assets

PAC Kingston Airport Limited, the Mexican-owned operator of the Norman Manley International Airport, wants assets valued at over $300 million belonging to Flight Connections Limited removed from the airport grounds despite an ongoing legal battle between both entities.

Flight Connections is controlled by businessman Dr Dawkins Brown.

In a public notice Packal gave Flight Connections until June 30 to clear its property from the grounds of Kingston-based NMIA.

The notice published last weekend also urged Brown as executive chairman or other directors to contact Packal representative Nicole Burgher or Jordan McCallum.

“Failure to do so will result in treating the property as abandoned,” Packal warned.

Flight Connections supplies various airlines with ground service support. From its warehouse at the airport, it offered cargo processing, ramp services, passenger check-in services, including wheelchair assistance, and baggage services.

Brown, meanwhile, is questioning the airport operator’s motives for the notice.

“I am a telephone call away,” he told the Financial Gleaner.

He added that Packal, which is represented by the law firm Dunn Cox in the ongoing legal battle, could have contacted Flight Connections’ attorney Hugh Wildman & Company.

“Packal is aware and could have reached out to the attorney if they have now decided to release our valuable equipment worth in excess of $300 million as per historical values,” said Brown, regarding the scanners and pumps, as well as other items inside the warehouse.

Flight Connections lost access to the airport in 2021 when Packal revoked its gate access, Brown said, showing documents. The revocation of access stemmed from a court case involving both parties over payment during the pandemic. The Financial Gleaner sent emails to both Burgher and McCallum and also called the numbers seeking comment but got no response up to press time. Burgher’s email gave an automated response that she was out of office until July.

“FCL took Packal to court regarding a commercial dispute and the renewal of a concession agreement which FCL had for over 15 years,” said Brown.

“We maintain that FCL is not indebted to Packal ... They wanted us to pay them even when the airport was closed,” he added.

Brown, who is also the executive chairman of financial consulting firm Dawgen Global, said that despite the impasse, Flight Connections plans to expand to other airports, and add to its service offerings in due course.

Packal took over the operation of the Kingston airport under a concession agreement with the Government of Jamaica in 2019.

The airport operator is owned by Pacific Airport Group, which also owns and operates the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay via MBJ Airport Limited.

steven.jackson@gleanerjm.com