The stewardship of Bermuda’s airport has officially switched hands from the Department of Airport Operations to Bermuda Skyport Corporation Limited.

Aaron Adderley, the former general manager of the DAO, who now presides over the new entity, hailed its launch as the start of “a new era”.

Like many other former DAO staff, Mr Adderley has kept a similar role but switched over to the company that will oversee both the running of LF Wade International Airport, and the 40-month project to replace its present terminal.

Construction is expected to start next month.

With the new facility to be completed in 2020, the existing building must now be “spruced up” for its remaining 3½ years in service.

“In the days and weeks ahead, we’ll be finalising a plan, parts of which have already been enacted, to address some of the facility deficiencies,” Mr Adderley said. Speaking at an announcement yesterday in the departures area of the present terminal, he said Skyport would “manage and co-ordinate the overall delivery of the airport redevelopment project for a 30-year concession term”.

At the close of that term, in 2047, “Skyport’s lease with the Government will end, and the day-to-day operation of the airport and its facilities will revert to the Government of Bermuda”.

Mr Adderley praised the work of DAO staff, 80 per cent of whom have gone over to Skyport, through the rocky progress of the agreement between the Bermuda Government, anxious to avoid further public debt, and the Canadian Commercial Corporation.

Former DAO staff comprise 28 out of the 32 positions in Skyport presently held by Bermudians. But Mr Adderley said he expected “30 new jobs at Skyport, for which we have already begun to recruit on-island”.

Although it is a Bermudian company, Skyport is owned by CCC’s chosen contractor, Aecon Concessions, a specialist in public-private partnerships that is to develop and finance the project.

Its president, Steve Nackan, called the company “a fusion — a partnership, if you will — of local talent and the international infrastructure expertise of Aecon”, and presented Aecon’s corporate social responsibility programme.

“Through Skyport, we will support community outreach, education, health and sports, and important environmental sustainability initiatives,” Mr Nackan said, citing the “significant footprint that the airport has in the community”.

That programme began with a donation of $5,000 to Family Centre.

Skyport will also recruit for positions at the Bermuda Airport Authority, the quango with oversight over Wade International’s administration and the redevelopment project.

Job inquiries may be sent to careers@skyport.bm, a spokeswoman said.