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This Opinion was shared on Kendra Beazer’s Facebook page in response to growing public concerns about air access challenges and the high cost of travel into Barbuda, calling for a people-centred approach to how the island’s airport is managed and used.
I want to thank Althea Nedd for raising concerns that many Antiguans and Barbudans who work in the aviation and tourism sectors have been quietly carrying for far too long. Her perspective is a reminder that those closest to the system often see its cracks first.
The Barbuda airport was conceived as a public–private partnership, but today it feels far more private than public.
What should have been a shared national asset built to strengthen our security and enhance our tourism product has instead evolved into an operation where one carrier holds disproportionate power and the public interest is too often sidelined.
SVG is currently the lone commercial carrier serving Barbuda. With that monopoly comes enormous influence over who gets to travel, when they travel, and at what cost.
A seven-seat aircraft, routinely overburdened and frequently delayed, cannot meet the needs of an island whose tourism sector is growing and whose residents deserve reliable access to the rest of the country and the world.
Meanwhile, the private jets landing on the extended airstrip serve one or two major developments, not the broader Antiguan and Barbudan economy.
SVG continues to shoulder the responsibility of transporting guests for the many boutique hotels that fall outside the ultra-luxury bracket.
Yet the limited capacity of their aircraft means visitors and working professionals are often prioritized over residents, leaving Barbudans stranded, rescheduled, or priced out.
Poor flight schedules, chronic delays, rising airfares, and inconsistent customer service are not isolated inconveniences.
They are symptoms of a poorly managed airport ecosystem one that is failing to deliver on the promises made when the airstrip expansion was first supported.
Yes, our national security has improved, and that is no small achievement. But tourism the other pillar of justification has not seen the same level of progress.
This is not simply an aviation issue. It is a governance issue.
A public–private partnership must still serve the public. That means equitable access to infrastructure, transparent decision-making, and shared usage of the concrete terminal structure that currently sits underutilized. It also means bringing all stakeholders to the table: the Airport Authority, the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, the Barbuda Council, PLH, SVG, and Barbuda Affairs.
Several steps should be considered.
First, clear timelines must be established for the completion of the new terminal. Barbudans deserve to know when the infrastructure they were promised will finally be delivered.
Second, a more inclusive usage agreement is essential. If SVG is to meet the island’s needs, they must be able to increase their carriage capacity especially during peak periods like Christmas and the height of the tourism season.
A 19-seat aircraft should not be a luxury; it should be a standard option when demand surges.
And regional carriers like LIAT should be welcomed back into the market, offering at least a three-day weekly schedule. Competition would not only improve service but also help reduce the high fees currently associated with air travel to and from Barbuda.
Third, we must acknowledge that the current system disproportionately benefits private jet traffic, while the majority of our tourism sector small hotels, guesthouses, and eco-lodges remains underserved.
Not every visitor arrives with a private pilot. Many of our guests, and many Antiguans and Barbudans themselves, need same-day international connections. They deserve an airport that supports their mobility, not one that restricts it.
The situation is complex, however with the right approach, the Barbuda airport can still become the asset it was meant to be. Development must be both people-based and place-based.
It must honour the needs of residents, support the growth of local businesses, and ensure that the benefits of progress are shared, not concentrated.
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