Antigua celebrates new BA route

V.C. Bird International Airport will serve as an important hub for UK-based carrier British Airways (BA), as the airline on Sunday launched its inaugural flight service from Antigua to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The route is historic as it will be the first direct-flight connection between the Eastern Caribbean and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Minister of Tourism Asot Michael at a reception to launch the service said to a gathering of tourism officials from the Turks and Caicos Islands and Antigua and Barbuda: "The rise in popularity of Antigua and Barbuda and Turks & Caicos is demonstrated by British Airways agreeing to add a direct link between our two destinations."

He also said, "This added service means new opportunities, and choices available to us for increased business activities and closer collaboration. The end result will be greater economic growth while simultaneously building the spirit of regional integration between our two countries."

The weekly flight from Gatwick to Antigua on a

Boeing 777 then onwards to Providenciales will operate every Sunday from March 29.

Michael said the new route allows for visa-free travel and will encourage more business and leisure travellers to island hop from Antigua to Turks and Caicos and vice versa.

Welcoming the airline as they prepared to board the inaugural flight were Porsha Stubbs-Smith, minister of tourism, Turks & Caicos; Dr Kingsley Been, chairman of Turks & Caicos Tourism Board; Ralph Higgs, director of tourism, Turks & Caicos; and Lavern Skippings-Reynolds, airport manager, Providenciales International Airport.

An invitation was extended to the government and the people of the Turks and Caicos to travel to Antigua for the country's Summer Carnival - July 25-August 4.

With a new terminal to be opened in June, Antigua's V.C. Bird International's airport expansion will increase capacity, allowing the destination to develop new routes. The terminal, which will be the most modern in the Eastern Caribbean, will feature the latest technology, first-class duty-free shopping and VIP lounges, creating a more efficient and enhanced

passenger experience.