Grantley Adams International Airport

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Grantley Adams International Airport
IATA: BGI - ICAO: TBPB
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Government
Serves Bridgetown
Elevation AMSL 169 ft (52 m)
Coordinates 13°04′28″N, 59°29′32″W
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
09/27 11,000 3,353 Asphalt

The Sir Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA), (IATA: BGI, ICAO: TBPB) in Seawell, Christ Church on the island of Barbados in the Eastern Caribbean. The airport was known as Seawell Airport before being dedicated in honor of the first Premier of Barbados, Sir Grantley Herbert Adams in 1976.

The Grantley Adams Airport has direct service to destinations in the United States, Canada, Central America, South America, Africa, and Europe and operates as a major gateway to the Eastern Caribbean. The airport is a second hub for both BWIA West Indies Airways and Leeward Islands Air Transport (LIAT).

Contents

[edit] History

Air transportation at the site of present day Grantley Adams International Airport, then known as Seawell Airport, goes back as far as the late 1930s. In 1939 a plane from the Royal Netherlands Airlines landed on the airport site. At the time there was merely a grassy strip as the runway. The strip was paved some time later and in 1949 the first Terminal building was built on the site, to replace a shed that was being used until then. This ushered in the Airport being formally known as the Seawell Airport.

During the 1960's the eastern flight-range at the airport became known as Paragon. This area of the airport became the intial base of a High Altitude Research Project known as Project HARP, Project HARP was jointly sponsored by McGill University in Canada and the United States military.

In 1983, the U.S.-sponsored invasion of Grenada prompted the United States form to yet another deal with Barbados. As part of the deal, the U.S. expanded a part of the current airport infrastructure. This was in preparation for the Grantley Adams Airport to be used as a base. The U.S. military oversaw the upgrading of the Airport runway in order for it to handle large U.S. military aircraft on their way to neighbouring Grenada. As part of the plan to maintain lasting stability in Grenada, the United States oversaw the establishment of the Regional Security System (RSS) at the eastern Grantley Adams airport flight-rage. The R.S.S. was a security unit focused on providing security for the Eastern Caribbean.

The Sir Grantley Adams International Airport, as it is known today, handles most large aircraft including Boeing 747s. The airport was also one of the few destinations in the world where British Airways' Concorde aircraft made regularly-scheduled flights, before the Concordes were completely retired. Concorde typically flew to Barbados during the busy UK-Barbados winter season. Concorde flight times from the United Kingdom to Barbados were less than 4 hours.

[edit] Overview and Geography

The Sir Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) lies 12.9 km (8 mi.) from the centre of the capital city Bridgetown, in an area officially known as Seawell. This is contrary to most informational services stating the airport as being located inside the capital city.

The terrain around the airport is relatively flat and quite Suburban. The airport lies in the south-eastern portion of parish of Christ Church, close to the southern tip of the entire island. The airport is provided with easy access to the ABC highway/highway 7 heading towards the capital and locations to the north and west coast of the island.

The Grantley Adams Airport also serves as the main air-transportation hub for the Eastern Caribbean. The airport is currently under-going a US$100 Million upgrade and expansion by the government, which will see the addition of a brand new arrivals hall adjacent to the current arrivals/departures terminals. During construction, parts of the airport will remain open for business with little disruption.

[edit] Airlines and Destinations

The Grantley Adams International Airport has direct-flight connections with some of the following Airlines and gateways.

[edit] Redevelopment

Since the Grantley Adams International Airport has become relatively busy for a small island, and based on the fact that future air traffic to the facilities are expected to increase, the government of Barbados has embarked on a US$100 million programme to revamp the Airport's current infrastructure. This included repaving the runway, adding a brand new arrivals terminal adjacent to the current building, renovating the current terminal, and bringing the airport infrastructure current for the new millennium.

[edit] Architects

Queen’s Quay Architects International Inc. (Q2) of Ontario, Canada -- are the architects of the redesigned GAIA airport, and are monitoring the renovation & expansion of the facilities. Website - www.q2a.net

[edit] Concorde Museum

To east of the main Sir Grantley Adams Airport is the proposed site for the new British Airways Concorde Museum on the old Spencers Plantation. This museum is to become a part of the new proposed expanded airport grounds. British Airways had granted the Government of Barbados one of their retired Concorde aircraft, to be put on permanent display in the island of Barbados. The Q2 company entered a museum and exhibition facility design to the Government of Barbados for this new permanent housing of the aircraft.

[edit] Contractor

Sypher:Mueller International Inc. -- of Ontario, Canada -- are responsible for the contractor, coordination and planning of the new terminal. Website - www.sypher.aero

Airport Contact Information:

Grantley Adams International Airport Christ Church, Barbados Tel: 1-246-428-7101

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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