The Airport In Barbados: All You Need To Know

Barbados' only airport is Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA), located in the south-east of the island, 12.9km (8.0mi) from the capital city of Bridgetown. The airport is a hub for the Eastern Caribbean, with direct flights to destinations in the US, Canada, Central America and Europe. It has been awarded Caribbean's Leading Airport at the World Travel Awards.

Grantley Adams International Airport

GAIA is the main aviation hub for the Eastern Caribbean, serving as the only port of entry by air for Barbados and operating as one of the major gateways to the region. It offers direct flights to destinations in the United States, Canada, Central America, the United Kingdom and Europe. The airport has two terminals, with dedicated arrivals and departures facilities. It has an 11,000-foot asphalt runway, one of the longest in the Eastern Caribbean, which can accommodate most large aircraft, including Boeing 747s.

The airport has undergone several expansion and renovation projects to cater to increased aircraft and passenger traffic. This includes a US$100 million programme between 2000 and 2006, which added a new arrivals terminal and improved infrastructure. The airport also features an in-bound duty-free shop, restaurants, and various other amenities for travellers.

GAIA has a rich history in aviation. The first recorded flight to Barbados landed at today's Rockley Golf Course in 1929. In September 1938, a mail plane from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines landed at the site of the present-day airport, then known as Seawell Airport. The airport was renamed in 1976 to honour Sir Grantley Adams. It was once a destination for British Airways' Concorde, which made regular flights to Barbados during the winter season.

Location and travel

Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) is Barbados' only airport, located in the Atlantic time zone (UTC−4:00) and in World Area Code region No. 246. It is situated in the parish of Christ Church, in an area officially known as Seawell, 12.9 km (8.0 mi) from Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados. The airport is accessible via the ABC Highway/Highway 7, which leads to the capital and locations in the north and west of the island. The airport is also connected to the Adams-Barrow-Cummins Highway, which leads to the west coast beaches. South coast and city destinations are also easily accessible by car or public transport.

GAIA is the main aviation hub for the Eastern Caribbean, serving as the only port of entry by air for Barbados and the wider region. The airport handles daily flights to and from other Caribbean islands, as well as major cities in the US, Canada, the UK, and Europe. Nonstop flights are available to London, Toronto, New York, Miami, and most Caribbean neighbours. The airport has a single, two-mile-long asphalt runway, which is one of the longest in the Eastern Caribbean at 11,017 ft (3,358 m) in length.

The airport has two terminal buildings, which are designed to appear as a single continuous structure. The older terminal building is currently used for departures, with gates 11–13, while the newer terminal building is for arrivals, with gates 1–10. Check-in and bag drop services are available in Terminal 1 on the ground floor, opening four hours before departure and closing one hour prior. The airport operates 24 hours a day, with a range of airlines serving various international destinations.

Upon arrival, passengers pass through immigration and customs before exiting the arrival hall. Car hire, taxis, and public transportation are readily available at the airport. For departures, passengers are dropped off near the airline counters for check-in. The airport also offers a range of amenities, including an in-bound duty-free shop and a Club Caribbean Executive Lounge and Business Centre.

History

The airport in Barbados is called the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) (BGI) (IATA: BGI, ICAO: TBPB). It is Barbados' only airport and the sole port of entry by air to the country. It is located in Seawell, Christ Church, Barbados, around 8-13 miles from the country's capital city, Bridgetown.

The first recorded flight to Barbados took place in 1929 at today's Rockley Golf Course. In September 1938, a mail plane from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines landed at the site of the present-day facility, then known as Seawell Airport. At the time, there was only a grassy strip as the runway, which was paved at a later date. In 1949, the first terminal was built to replace a shed that was being used as the airport facility.

In 1960, the eastern flight-range just southeast of the airport became known as Paragon. This area became the initial base of a 'High Altitude Research Project' known as Project HARP, jointly sponsored by McGill University in Canada and the United States military.

In 1976, the airport was dedicated posthumously in honour of the first Premier of Barbados, Sir Grantley Herbert Adams. In the same year, on 6 October, Cubana Flight 455 was bombed and crashed off the coast of Barbados in a terrorist attack by suspected CIA operatives shortly after taking off from Barbados.

In 1981, a Caribbean Airways McDonnell-Douglas DC-10-30 operating a scheduled service from Barbados to London Gatwick suffered a tyre burst on takeoff from GAIA. In 1983, the airport became the scene of intense military activity when then-Prime Minister Tom Adams, the son of the airport's eponym, offered the use of the facility to the U.S. military as a forward staging and support area for Operation Urgent Fury. The airport also became a press centre for over 300 international journalists who were dispatched to report on the surprise multi-national intervention into the neighbouring island of Grenada.

In 2004-2006, GAIA underwent a major terminal expansion and renovation project, transforming from a single terminal building into a two-terminal facility with dedicated departures and arrivals terminals. The airport has also undergone a multi-phase US$100 million upgrade and expansion by the government, which included the addition of a new arrivals hall adjacent to the prior arrivals/departures terminals.

Airlines and destinations

Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) is the only airport in Barbados and the aviation hub of the Eastern Caribbean. It handles daily flights to and from other Caribbean islands, connecting to major cities in the US, Canada, the UK, and Europe. Nonstop flights occur daily to London, Toronto, New York, Miami, and most Caribbean neighbours.

Some of the major carriers operating into Barbados include:

• American Airlines and JetBlue from the United States of America
• British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Monarch, and Thomson Airways from the United Kingdom/Europe
• Air Canada and West Jet from Canada
• Condor from Germany
• LIAT and Caribbean Airlines operating within the region

The airport has two terminal buildings, with dedicated departures and arrivals terminals. All Virgin Atlantic flights depart from and arrive at Terminal 1.

The airport's former name was Seawell Airport, and it is located in the Atlantic time zone (UTC−4:00). It is situated in the southeast of the island, approximately 12.9 km (8.0 mi) to 13 km (8 miles) from the capital city of Bridgetown.

Facilities and amenities

Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) is the only airport in Barbados and the aviation hub of the Eastern Caribbean. It is located in the south-east of the island, around 12-13km from the capital city of Bridgetown. The airport operates 24 hours a day and has a single two-mile-long asphalt runway, which is one of the longest runways in the Eastern Caribbean.

GAIA has two terminal buildings, which are designed to appear as one continuous structure. The older building is the current departures terminal, with gates 11-13, and the newer terminal spans gates 1-10. The terminal currently has 23 ground-level gates. The airport has undergone a multi-phase upgrade and expansion, including a new arrivals hall, a new baggage system, and improved flight information displays.

The airport has customer service information desks and services for travellers with disabilities. It also provides a Fast Track Arrival Service, allowing passengers to clear immigration and customs quickly. There is an inbound duty-free shop in the arrivals terminal, and an expanded duty-free shopping area in the departures area, along with restaurants and lounges.

GAIA offers various ticketing facilities, including mobile boarding passes and self-service check-in options. Check-in and bag drop services are available in Terminal 1, and passengers are recommended to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their flight. The airport also provides special assistance services for those who need help during their journey.

GAIA serves as a base for several airlines, including Trans Island Air, St. Vincent and Grenadines Air, Mustique Airways, and Executive Air, which offer air taxi and day-tour charter services. Major carriers serving the airport include American Airlines, JetBlue, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada, and LIAT.

Frequently asked questions