Work continues on the preparation of a Master Plan for the development and expansion of the V.C Bird International Airport with the latest activity being a visit by Mr. Rob Rushmer from the UK based consulting firm of Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick.

During his visit Mr. Rushmer continued the process of consultation with government officials and airport stakeholders as the engineering firm puts together its proposals for enabling the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda to maximize the development of the airport and its facilities.

During his most recent visit Mr. Rushmer held meetings with a number of officials including Prime Minister the Hon Baldwin Spencer, the Hon Harold Lovell, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, representatives of the airport management, various airport stakeholders, APUA and West Indies Oil Company WIOC, as well as with Mr. Allen Stanford and other officials of the Stanford group of companies.

Mr. Ken Hurst, Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Millennium Airport Corporation indicated that the programme for preparation of the airport Master Plan remains on schedule with a first draft for public review expected on Friday 19th August 2005.

That report will present various development possibilities for the VC Bird International and the associated financial analysis to determine the options that achieve the development needs of the airport for an estimated 30 year time frame.

Following the initial Master Plan, the Final Master Plan will be prepared in October 2005. He noted that critical issues were the need to ensure that the VC Bird International was able to satisfy requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for safety and security, as well as planning for a transition away from present visually based landing approaches to more modern Instrument based landing approaches which were increasingly being demanded by airlines operating into Antigua. In a number of instances these international obligations required expansion of the airport and its facilities in order to meet separation and other requirements.

In addition to the Master Plan, the Millennium Airport Corporation is presently working with the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the VCBIA administration, and the Ministry of Public Works, on a number of remedial structural measures at the airport, including renovations to the roof. Various other aesthetic and structural improvements are also planned for completion at the airport before the upcoming winter tourist season.

For further information contact:
Samoya Kirby
Communications Officer
Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation
773-1788 (cell)
462-0480 (office)
460-6093 (fax)
samoya.kirby@antigua.gov.ag