Jump to content

V. C. Bird International Airport

Coordinates: 17°08′12″N 061°47′35″W / 17.13667°N 61.79306°W / 17.13667; -61.79306
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"TAPA" redirects here. For other uses, see Tapa.

V. C. Bird International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorAntigua and Barbuda Airport Authority
ServesSt. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
LocationOsbourn, Antigua and Barbuda
Hub for
Elevation AMSL62 ft / 19 m
Coordinates17°08′12″N 061°47′35″W / 17.13667°N 61.79306°W / 17.13667; -61.79306
Websitehttp://vcbia.com
Map
ANU is located in Antigua and Barbuda
ANU
ANU
Location in Antigua
ANU is located in Caribbean
ANU
ANU
ANU (Caribbean)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
07/25 3,038 9,967 Asphalt
Statistics (2018)
Passengers981,159
Passenger change 17-18NA
Aircraft movements38,305
Movements change 17-18NA
Source: DAFIF,[1][2] 2009 World Airport Traffic Report.[3]

V. C. Bird International Airport (IATA: ANU, ICAO: TAPA) is an international airport located on the island of Antigua, 8 km (5.0 mi) northeast of St. John's, the largest city of Antigua and Barbuda.

History

[edit]
The former terminal, now used as offices, but occasionally has general aviation-related flights.

The airport originally was operated by the United States Army Air Forces.

The airport was built as a United States Army Air Forces base around 1941 and named Coolidge Airfield after Capt. Hamilton Coolidge (1895–1918), a United States Army Air Service pilot killed in World War I.[citation needed]

Flying units assigned to the airfield were:

Renamed Coolidge Air Force Base (Coolidge AFB) in 1948, it was closed as a result of budgetary cutbacks in 1949, with the right of re-entry retained by the United States. Agreements were subsequently reached with the United Kingdom and, later, the Antigua government upon independence, for the establishment and maintenance of missile tracking facilities. Antigua Air Station was established on a portion of the former Coolidge AFB. As of 2011, NASA continues to utilize the Antigua facility for launch tracking services on an as-needed basis; and did so for the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory on 26 November 2011.[4]

Upon the closure of the base in 1949, it became a civil airport. It was known as Coolidge International Airport until 1985 when it was named in honour of Sir Vere Cornwall Bird (1909–1999), the first prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda.[citation needed]

In December 2005, the Antigua and Barbuda Millennium Airport Corporation announced it would invite tenders to construct the first phase of a new passenger terminal designed to serve the airport for 30 years. In 2012, they announced the construction of its second terminal.[citation needed]

The new terminal became operational on 26 August 2015. All flights operate from the new facility. The terminal covers 23,000 square meters (247,570 square feet), with four jet bridges, modern security screening facilities, up-to-date passenger processing and monitoring facilities, and a CCTV security system. It contains 46 check-in counters, 15 self-check-in kiosks, 5 baggage carousels, a mini food court, multiple VIP lounges, a bank, retail stores, first-class lounges, restaurants, and other facilities. Other improvements included a newly constructed car park; parallel to the old terminal, along with other airport offices.[5]

In May 2025 it was announced that the old terminal would be renovated to support cruise home-porting operations at the harbour in St. John's. The old terminal is expected to reopen as a new second terminal in late 2025.[6]

Airlines and destinations

[edit]

Passenger

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
Air Canada Rouge Toronto–Pearson[7]
Air Peace[8] Charter: Accra, Barbados, Lagos[9]
American Airlines Miami, New York–JFK
Seasonal: Charlotte[citation needed]
Anguilla Air Services Anguilla[10]
BMN Air Barbuda,[11] Montserrat[12]
British Airways Aruba,[13] London–Gatwick, Saint Kitts
Seasonal: Grenada[citation needed]
CalvinAir Helicopters Barbuda, Dominica–Canefield, Montserrat, Nevis, Saint Kitts
Caribbean Airlines Barbados, Dominica–Douglas-Charles,[14] Kingston–Norman Manley, Port of Spain, Saint Kitts[15]
Condor Seasonal: Frankfurt[16][17]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta
Seasonal: New York–JFK[18]
FlyMontserrat Barbuda, Montserrat, Nevis
InterCaribbean Airways Barbados, Providenciales, Tortola[19]
JetBlue New York–JFK
Liat Air Barbuda,[20] Barbados,[21] Cartagena de Indias,[22] Castries,[23] Dominica–Douglas-Charles,[24] Georgetown–Cheddi Jagan,[25] Grenada,[26] Kingston–Norman Manley,[27] Montego Bay,[28][29] Port of Spain,[30] Punta Cana,[31] Saint Kitts,[32] Saint Vincent–Argyle,[33] Sint Maarten,[34] Tortola[35]
Norse Atlantic Airways[36] Seasonal charter: London–Gatwick,[citation needed] Manchester (UK)[citation needed]
Sky High Santo Domingo–Las Americas
St Barth Commuter Saint Barthelemy[citation needed]
Sunrise Airways Barbados,[37] Castries,[38] Dominica–Douglas-Charles,[39] Fort-de-France,[37] Grenada,[37] Pointe-à-Pitre,[37] Port-au-Prince,[40] Saint Kitts,[41] Saint Vincent–Argyle,[37] Santo Domingo–Las Americas,[37] Sint Maarten,[42] Tortola[37]
SVG Air Dominica–Canefield[43][44]
Tradewind Aviation Anguilla,[45] Saint Barthelemy
United Airlines Newark
VI Airlink Tortola
Virgin Atlantic London–Heathrow
WestJet Toronto–Pearson[46]
Winair Dominica–Douglas-Charles, Montserrat, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts, Sint Maarten,[47] Tortola

Ground transportation

[edit]

Taxis and rental cars are available at the airport, although there is no public bus service.

Other facilities

[edit]

Statistics

[edit]

The airport was opened on 20 August 2015, and has a processing capacity of 1,700 passengers. The airport is open 24 hours a day and is serviced by more than 17 airlines.[50]

Accidents and incidents

[edit]

References

[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ "Airport information for TAPA". World Aero Data. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Data current as of October 2006. Source: DAFIF.
  2. ^ Airport information for ANU / TAPA at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
  3. ^ Airport Council International's 2009 World Airport Traffic Report
  4. ^ "Mars Science Lander launch coverage". NASA TV. NASA. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  5. ^ "V.C Bird International Airport - Airport Development". Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  6. ^ Bique-Charles, Shermain (27 May 2025). "Old Airport Terminal Set to Open Just in Time for Homeporting Season". Antigua News ! - Breaking stories that captivate. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Toronto, ON, Canada YTO". OAG Flight Guide Worldwide. 27 (1). Luton, United Kingdom: OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited: 1156–1162. July 2025. ISSN 1466-8718. OCLC 41608313.
  8. ^ "Air Peace launches historic Africa-Caribbean route as flights sell out within minutes". WICNews.com. 25 December 2025.
  9. ^ jennelsa.johnson. "Air Peace to launch monthly charter service connecting West Africa to Caribbean". Antigua Observer Newspaper. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  10. ^ Liu, Jim. "Anguilla Air Services adds Antigua route from Nov 2020". Routesonline. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  11. ^ "how to get to barbuda". Barbudaful. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  12. ^ "SVG TO INTRODUCE TWIN OTTER OPERATIONS STARTING SEPTEMBER 1, 2025". Government of Montserrat. 14 August 2025. Archived from the original on 16 October 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  13. ^ "British Airways Launches Gatwick - Aruba & Georgetown". 10 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Caribbean Airlines".[full citation needed]
  15. ^ "Caribbean Airlines 3Q23 Network Additions". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Condor Is Resuming Flights to Antigua". Antigua News Room. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Condor restarts service to Antigua and Barbuda". 5 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Delta NW24 Caribbean Network Additions". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  19. ^ "LIAT Airlines Inaugurates Service To The Virgin Islands". bvi.gov.vg. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  20. ^ "LIAT 2020 to Launch Services to Barbuda". NevisPages.com. 23 February 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  21. ^ Digital, V. P. (14 August 2024). "LIAT20 Introduces New Chapter in Regional Connectivity". The Voice St. Lucia News. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  22. ^ "LIAT20 and BlueSea Launch Direct Flights Between Antigua and Colombia Starting September 2025". Antigua News Room. 16 July 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  23. ^ Digital, V. P. (14 August 2024). "LIAT20 Introduces New Chapter in Regional Connectivity". The Voice St. Lucia News. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  24. ^ Digital, V. P. (31 August 2024). "Dominica welcomes inaugural flight of LIAT 2020, set to operate regular services". WIC News. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  25. ^ "LIAT 2020 launches direct flight to Georgetown". 14 November 2024.
  26. ^ "LIAT20 adds Dominica, St Kitts, and Grenada to flight network | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  27. ^ "LIAT 20 Will Begin Direct Flights Between Jamaica And Antigua". Radio Jamaica News. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  28. ^ CMC (4 July 2025). "LIAT to Begin Flights Between Montego Bay and Kingston". Caribbean Today. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  29. ^ "LIAT to begin flights between MoBay and Kingston July 11". jamaica-gleaner.com. 2 July 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  30. ^ "LIAT 2020 new route to Trinidad kicks off December 19 - WIC News". 29 November 2024.
  31. ^ Group, 2006-2020, Merit Designs Consulting. "LIAT Air connects Antigua and Barbuda with the Dominican Republic". DominicanToday. Retrieved 28 December 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ "LIAT20 adds Dominica, St Kitts, and Grenada to flight network | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  33. ^ "LIAT 2020 to Commence Inaugural Flights to St. Vincent and the Grenadines on October 4". 24 September 2024.
  34. ^ "LIAT Reintroduces Flights to Sint Maarten". St. Maarten Sotheby's International Realty. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  35. ^ "LIAT Airlines Inaugurates Service To The Virgin Islands | Government of the Virgin Islands". bvi.gov.vg. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  36. ^ "Norse Atlantic to operate Caribbean flights from Gatwick and Manchester with P&O Cruises".
  37. ^ a b c d e f g "Sunrise Airways NW24 Caribbean Network Additions". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  38. ^ "Sunrise Airways Adds 3 Antigua Routes from late-May 2024".
  39. ^ "Sunrise Airways Adds 3 Antigua Routes from late-May 2024".
  40. ^ "Sunrise Airways Expands St. Maarten Service from late-July 2024".
  41. ^ "Sunrise Airways Adds 3 Antigua Routes from late-May 2024".
  42. ^ "Sunrise Airways Expands St. Maarten Service from late-July 2024".
  43. ^ "SVG Air Launches New Routes to St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua". St.VincentTimes. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  44. ^ "SVG Air introduces new route linking four OECS nations". SearchLight. November 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  45. ^ "Tradewind Aviation 1Q24 Anguilla Network Expansion". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  46. ^ "Toronto, ON, Canada YTO". OAG Flight Guide Worldwide. 27 (1). Luton, United Kingdom: OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited: 1156–1162. July 2025. ISSN 1466-8718. OCLC 41608313.
  47. ^ "St. Maarten, St Maarten (Dutch Part) SXM". OAG Flight Guide Worldwide. 26 (7). Luton, United Kingdom: OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited: 1117–1118. January 2025. ISSN 1466-8718. OCLC 41608313.
  48. ^ "Antigua Outstation." Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved on 23 December 2012.
  49. ^ "Meet Antigua Artist Heather Doram". Yachting Mag. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  50. ^ "Airport Statistics – V.C. Bird International Airport".
  51. ^ "Fly Montserrat Airplane Crash in Antigua reported Archived 16 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine." Spice Media Group. 8 October 2012. Retrieved on 8 October 2012.
  52. ^ Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority, ECCAA. "Interim Report Released on Cause of Fly Montserrat Crash: Water In Fuel Feeding System". MNI Alive. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2012. ()
[edit]

Media related to V. C. Bird International Airport at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=V._C._Bird_International_Airport&oldid=1337231499"