Major progress has been made in the US$50 million airfield upgrade at V.C. Bird International Airport.

Officials confirmed that Phase One of the Airfield Rehabilitation Project is now complete. As a result, the airport has restored the runway’s full operational length. International flights are once again using the entire strip.

Moreover, the upgrades improve safety and boost compliance with global aviation rules. The work aligns the airport with international civil aviation standards. Therefore, Antigua and Barbuda strengthens its aviation standing.

This week, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Charles Fernandez toured the site. He praised the quality and pace of the work. He said the project shows strong teamwork among designers and contractors.

Importantly, crews completed Phase One on time and within budget. In addition, airport operations continued without disruption. Even during the busy travel season, flights operated as scheduled.

The first phase delivered several key upgrades. Workers built a new and expanded Runway 25 turnpad. Engineers designed it using the Airbus A350-1000 as the reference aircraft. Consequently, the airport can now handle larger wide-body jets more efficiently.

Crews also installed new runway end lights and edge lighting. Furthermore, they added turnpad edge lighting and a dedicated blast pad. These changes improve visibility and pilot awareness.

Another major improvement is the new Runway End Safety Area, known as RESA. Because the airport sits near the coastline, space remains limited. Therefore, teams removed about 130 metres of pavement. They then adjusted operational distances to meet safety standards.

Although the runway is slightly shorter, safety has improved. The RESA now offers greater protection at the runway’s end. As a result, the airport meets full international safety requirements.

Looking ahead, Phase Two will conclude Saturday night. Then, Phase Three begins Monday night. Crews will build an alternate turn pad and temporarily close the Runway 07 threshold.

At the same time, other phases will continue. Workers will pave the Runway 07-25 overlay to enhance durability and performance.

Officials expect substantial completion by July 6, 2026. Full completion is set for September 6, 2026. Overall, the project keeps Antigua and Barbuda moving forward in regional aviation.