By Aabigayle McIntosh

The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) has given it’s final approval for the opening of the International Airport on Barbuda paving the way for the facility to be opened on October 3rd, 2025.

This is a major development  for the country’s civil aviation and tourism industries and is expected to further turbocharge  economic growth on the sister isle of Barbuda.

The minister responsible for both portfolios Charles Fernandez spoke to the ABS news late Wednesday.

He said, “ It is very important because what happens is Barbuda  is seeing a really you renaissance  even more than that the beginning of  hotel expansion does and high-end properties coming online. It’s like a Jumby Bay Resort and as you would know a majority of persons coming into Jumby Bay  all come in a private aircraft and so the idea is they now will be able to fly directly to Barbuda and land in Barbuda and so  I think is going to be a an important aspect for the industry in Barbuda the very high-end industry that is working in Barbuda,” Fernandez said.

The government has set its sights on developing the sister isle as a high-end tourism destination.