On Saturday, December 21, 54 planes arrived at Barbados’ Grantley Adams Worldwide Airport (GAIA), marking a historic milestone for the airport and the tourism business.
Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism and Worldwide Transport, who was current for the arrival of the primary Delta Saturday-only flight out of John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport, acknowledged that roughly 8,000 passengers would have arrived on the island on account of the 54 flights, with 2,200 of these passengers being air-to-sea transfers.
Mr. Gooding-Edghill acknowledged that the milestone demonstrated the success of the Ministry’s and Barbados Tourism Advertising and marketing Inc.’s (BTMI) airlift technique. He offered a breakdown of the plane that landed at GAIA.
“Our airlift strategy has elevated the variety of guests to Barbados. At present can also be a landmark day for Grantley Adams Worldwide Airport. I have to inform you that immediately this airport will see 54 flights, 15 broad physique plane, 15 slim physique flights, and 24 regional,” Minister Gooding-Edghill acknowledged.
He thanked the Ministry’s employees, the BTMI, folks within the aviation sector, vacationer stakeholders, and, specifically, Peter Mayers, BTMI’s Director for the USA.
“I’d additionally wish to congratulate the Barbados Tourism Advertising and marketing Inc. workforce, which is located in the USA. This workforce accompanied us on our journey and assisted us in negotiating with the airways to attain the success we see with our airline technique. The workforce is led by our Director, Peter Mayers.
“Peter, I wish to say thanks, not solely on behalf of Barbados Tourism Advertising and marketing Inc., not solely on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism however actually on behalf of the Authorities and the folks of Barbados, in your persevering with service excellence and your dedication to the event of Barbados as a tourism vacation spot, I wish to say that to you,” in line with the Tourism Minister.
He acknowledged that the elevated variety of airlifts was evident in customer arrival figures in comparison with 2019. “One other intriguing truth is that the Grantley Adams Worldwide Airport is anticipated to deal with 2.35 million passengers by the tip of this yr. Based on Mr Gooding-Edghill, this considerably elevated from the two.29 million passengers reported in 2019.
The minister additionally acknowledged that the ministry plans to extend airlifts to the island from the USA and Europe.
Hadley Bourne, Chief Govt Officer of the GAIA, additionally offered an replace on the group’s operations. He defined that one of many measures to enhance the airport expertise was the implementation of the Concorde Expertise.
“So, we’d have heard the Minister discuss his tourism technique and the expansion that we’re seeing in all the numerous markets, together with air-to-sea, and a type of fairly good initiatives that we’d have additionally engaged in to enhance the general expertise on the Grantley Adams Worldwide Airport is the opening of the Harmony expertise.”
“It’s been open for about six weeks, and we’ve had wonderful response from all stakeholders, together with passengers, ship staff, and native stakeholders. On any given Friday or Saturday, the power handles greater than 1,500 travellers. This alleviates a serious burden on the primary terminal, permitting the Minister to broaden his business exercise, and that is simply one of many initiatives we’ve seen. As a result of, for us, shopper expertise is essential to preserving and sustaining the tourism product that we promote,” Mr. Bourne stated.
