Antigua and Barbuda has made a “decisive transfer” on the Caribbean tourism chessboard with the opening of the brand new Barbuda Worldwide Airport on Oct. 3.
This strategic improvement, which features a cutting-edge FBO—one of many few within the area—positions the twin-island nation as a brand new huge participant in attracting high-end vacationers and personal jet prospects.
The highest-of-the-line facility includes a 6,100-foot LED-illuminated runway and trendy facilities, enabling direct connections to a number of nations worldwide. Carriers equivalent to Liat 20, BMN Air and Calvin Air are already set to ascertain these connections to Barbuda.
Moreover, the $14 million airport is provided to deal with bigger plane, and personal jets will likely be served by a brand new Fastened Base Operator (FBO)—a facility that gives fueling, upkeep, hangar storage and passenger facilities equivalent to personal lounges.
An FBO usually presents a extra unique stage of service, catering to the consolation and particular wants of luxurious vacationers—an especially engaging function for worldwide celebrities who incessantly use personal jets as their most popular mode of transportation.
That is particularly noteworthy provided that 2024’s journey tendencies have revealed that wherever celebrities like Taylor Swift or well-known athletes go, their followers comply with.
“A global airport is a sport changer for Barbuda, as we glance to draw the posh traveler and personal jet homeowners from world wide to Barbuda and showcasing the island’s magnificence, pink sand seashores, eco-experiences, wellness attributes and tradition to all our guests,” mentioned Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority CEO, Colin C. James.
As well as, the total LED runway lighting system now permits Barbuda to obtain common evening landings, additional increasing the island’s capability to draw new vacationers.
“We have now taken daring steps to modernize this island, guaranteeing that its air hyperlinks are second to none on this area in order that Barbuda may reap the benefits of the exceptional progress in our nation’s tourism that we’ve got seen this 12 months,” mentioned the nation’s Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Transportation, the Hon. Charles Fernandez.
The opening of this new worldwide transportation hub comes at a pivotal second for tourism in Antigua and Barbuda. From January to August 2024, the vacation spot hosted 229,225 in a single day guests—a 17 p.c improve in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months, and 13% greater than in 2019, when the nation skilled its best-ever 12 months in tourism.
Extra excellent news. The federal government additionally introduced that the nation is ready to obtain a document variety of cruise ships, additional boosting its tourism figures.
“For the primary time ever, Barbuda will see 23 luxurious cruise ship calls bringing 5,039 cruise passengers to this lovely island for the upcoming winter cruise season,” and in addition confirmed their plans to additional broaden the airport (BIA).
“This new Barbuda Worldwide Airport is a shining testomony to the visionary management of our authorities,” concluded Fernandez.
