ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA. Barbuda International Airport officially opened on 4 October, signalling a new chapter for Barbuda’s connectivity, tourism and economic growth.
The opening allows direct connections to global destinations and offers an enhanced travel experience for visitors and residents into the island, the airport company said.
The US$14 million gateway boasts a 6,100-foot runway, significantly longer than the 1,640 feet runway at the old Codrington Airport and twice as wide, enabling it to accommodate larger aircraft.
A modern Fixed Base Operator (FBO) terminal developed by PLH (Peace, Love and Happiness) caters to high-end travellers seeking Barbuda’s beaches, serenity, nature and exclusive experiences.
“This new Barbuda International Airport is a shining testament to the visionary leadership of our government”, said Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Transportation Charles Fernandez.
“We have taken bold steps to modernise this island, ensuring that its air links are second to none in this region so that Barbuda can also take advantage of the remarkable growth in our country’s tourism that we have seen this year.”
Stay-over tourism air arrivals in Antigua and Barbuda grew +17% year-on-year in the first eight months of 2024 to 229,225 visitors. That is +13% ahead of the same period in pre-pandemic 2019, previously the best year for tourism arrivals.
“An international airport is a game changer for Barbuda, as we look to attracting the luxury traveller and private jet owners from around the world to Barbuda and showcasing the island’s beauty, pink sand beaches, eco-experiences, wellness attributes and culture to all our visitors,” said Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority CEO Colin James. ✈
