Brakkam Aviation Tapped to Lead Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority on Interim Basis

The Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority (ABAA) has brought in Brakkam Aviation Management, LLC to provide interim executive leadership as the body prepares for a major international aviation audit.

The move comes as the Authority faces a leadership gap with no permanent Chief Executive Officer in place. Brakkam, based in Atlanta, Georgia, will manage day-to-day executive functions, oversee the search for a new CEO, and advise on upgrades to airport operations, passenger services, and environmental standards.

ABAA oversees V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua and Barbuda International Airport. Its chairman, Rolston Potter, said the decision is part of a wider strategy to strengthen both facilities ahead of the 2026 audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Potter also noted that the Authority is at a pivotal stage in its growth as an international hub, requiring world-class management systems.

“Brakkam brings proven leadership and expertise within the global aviation sector, positioning the ABAA to meet and exceed international standards,” Potter said.

Brakkam has advised airports and governments across the globe, including China’s Guangdong Airport Authority, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Airports Authority of Jamaica, and the governments of St. Lucia and the British Virgin Islands.

Leading the project in Antigua and Barbuda will be Brakkam founder Miguel Southwell, who is also an Antiguan national. Southwell, who takes up the role of Interim CEO on September 29, previously managed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest passenger hub, and held senior posts at Miami International Airport.

With more than four decades of industry experience, he has also worked with Airports Council International (ACI) and advised CARICOM on improving regional air connectivity.

The ABAA says the interim arrangement will provide stability during a transitional period while setting the stage for long-term improvements in efficiency, financial sustainability, and passenger experience.