Barbados / Airport

Grantley Adams International Airport (airport code BGI, after Bridgetown, the island’s capital), t 418 4242, is located approximately 10 miles/16km south east of Bridgetown city centre.

The airport has recently undergone a multi-million dollar expansion programme which started in 2001, with the final phase completed in 2007. This included the construction of a new, much larger arrivals terminal (next to the former arrivals hall), which now houses 22 immigration work stations, five large luggage carousels and two duty free shops. The old arrivals hall has become part of an extended departure lounge and houses a new airside food court and retail concourse. The existing departure lounge has been completely refurbished and extended, and now has airside views of the aircraft parking apron. Other improvements include an additional ticketing area, the relocation of the upstairs airport restaurant and bar to a casual food courtyard at ground level, a chapel on the mezzanine level along with new airline executive lounges and a new landside retail area. Other facilities include a bank and postal services. Approximately four air bridges are part of the next set of improvements and there has been talk of enclosing the check-in area and installing air-conditioning.

A Tourist Information Help Desk, t 428 7101, ext 4605, is open from 8am to 10pm and is located in the arrivals hall.

The 28,000 sq ft Barbados Concorde Experience, t 253 6257, situated next door to the airport, opened on 16 April 2007. Visitors can board one of the seven supersonic jets that were flown by British Airways from the 1970s until they were retired in October 2003. Barbados is one of just a handful of destinations around the world to which the jet flew, but it did so during the winter season for over 20 years. The trans-Atlantic crossing took around four hours, leaving London after breakfast and arriving in Barbados in time for lunch. Four of the remaining jets have stayed in Britain (Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh and Heathrow), whilst the other two have gone to North America (Seattle and New York). The Barbados centre features a gift shop, interactive exhibits and a multi-media show about the aircraft.