Barbados Airport Receives 54 Flights In One Day

• The Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) achieved a historic milestone on December 21, with 54 flights arriving in a single day, bringing approximately 8,000 passengers to Barbados, including 2,200 air-to-sea transfers and 5,800 stay-over visitors, further boosting the island’s economy.
• Minister of Tourism Ian Gooding-Edghill highlighted the success of the Ministry’s and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s (BTMI) airlift strategy, noting the significant increase in visitor arrivals compared to 2019.
• The increased number of airlifts was evident in visitor arrival figures compared to 2019. “Another intriguing fact is that the Grantley Adams International Airport is expected to handle 2.35 million passengers by the end of this year.
• According to Mr. Gooding-Edghill, this significantly increased from the 2.29Mn passengers reported in 2019, signaling a robust resurgence in Barbados’ tourism sector. The minister also stated that the ministry plans to increase airlifts to the island from the United States and Europe.
• The surge in passenger traffic underscores the island’s booming tourism industry, which continues to rebound with vigor. Barbados’ strategic focus on attracting international visitors is paying dividends, as evidenced by the growth in arrivals, the airport’s ability to manage such high volumes efficiently and the island’s growing appeal as a premier travel destination.
• GAIA’s CEO, Hadley Bourne, emphasised enhancements like the newly operational Concorde Experience, which alleviates terminal congestion and improves customer experience, as "reinforcing Barbados’ reputation as a premier tourism destination."

(Sources: Caribbean News Now and The New York Carib News)