Officials of the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) announced yesterday that the nation’s main gateway is once again open and operational.

Hurricane Matthew, which was the first hurricane to directly hit New Providence in many decades, gave the facility its first hand test of the $409.5 million facility, which was completed in 2013.

In a statement sent yesterday, officials said LPIA began operations again this past Saturday with the United States Customs and Border Protection Pre-Clearance (USCBP) facilities reopening – fully staffed and functioning.

Officials also said that technologies, including automated passport control, electronic boarding pass capability and global entry are also available.

Additionally, airside operations are functional including all eight of the airport’s 11 jet bridges and hand stand operations.

“We were very pleased that LPIA was able to fully resume operations just one day after the storm departed Nassau,” said President and CEO of Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD) Vernice Walkine.

“We are grateful to all of the stakeholders at LPIA for their immediate response following the storm that made this possible.”

Officials said structurally, the airport fared well and remains in “excellent condition” sustaining minor cosmetic damage to its exterior.

Internally, the terminals also incurred minor damage.

All vendors at the airport are operational.