Grantley Adams International Airport

5 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 11 With a rich history dating back to the 1940s, the airport has undergone significant expansion and modernization in recent years to become one of the most modern and well-equipped airports in the Caribbean. From its state-of-the-art terminal building to its wide range of shopping and dining options, Grantley Adams International Airport offers a world-class travel experience for passengers from around the globe. Business View Magazine caught up with Hadley Bourne, CEO of Grantley Adams International Airport Inc., to delve deeper into the history and operations of the airport and explore its facilities, services, and the role it plays in connecting the Caribbean to the world. “GAIA was previously a landing strip during the British colonial times,” Bourne says. “Back in 1939, it was a grass runway, which the government saw the necessity to expand to the current state. As part of the expansion process, a new terminal was opened in 1979.” GAIA’s current traffic is roughly 2.2 million passengers a year, with a capacity to handle aircraft of any size up to Airbus A380, supported by recent runway rehabilitation works that will help these capabilities for the next twenty years. “The airport has over twenty parking positions, which gives it the capacity to handle commercial and private jets coming into the country,” Bourne adds. “Especially during the holidays, we a see a lot of private jets, most in the category of 11,000+ feet.” GAIA boasts multiple landing facilities, including a central runway that can accommodate large commercial aircraft besides facilities for general aviation and private jets. Aside from aircraft-specific facilities, GAIA’s modern terminal building provides a range of amenities and services for travelers, including retail and duty-free shopping, casual dining, currency exchange, comfortable GRANTLEY ADAMS INTERNAT IONAL AI RPORT Barbados’ drinkingwater comes mainly from rainfall and at this timewhere moreweather related situations like ‘droughts’ are occurring around theworld, conservation is definitely a practicewe appeal to all persons on the island to adopt. As we approachWorldWater Day 2023, celebrated internationally onMarch 22nd annually, we encourage persons to consistently practise goodwater use habits and conservation within their homes and places of business. This year, the focus of this UN observance is on “ Accelerating Change to Solve theWater and Sanitation Crisis ”. The global campaign, titled “Be the change”, urges people to take action in their own lives to change theway they use, consume andmanagewater. The BarbadosWaterAuthority (BWA) is currently engaged in several operational and capital works projects. These involve changing a number of work systems and processes, with a view to modernizing its operations. All of the BWA’s undertakings exemplify this year’s theme “Accelerating Change…Be the Change”. Sowhether you are a permanent resident of Barbados or visit our homeland from time to time, be mindful, conserve this precious resource, and help us ‘be the changewe all want to see’.Water…know its worth, understand its value to us and our very existence. Formore information, please visit www.barbadoswaterauthority.com