Exactly two decades ago, the British Airways Concorde, affectionately known as Alpha Echo, made its final landing at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA). Having completed over 7,000 flights in its 26 years of service with the powerful Olympus 593 engines, Alpha Echo retired gracefully. Now, it resides in the purpose-built "Concorde Experience Barbados" hangar, showcasing its...
Barbados' Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) achieved a noteworthy milestone early in the winter season, marking its busiest day thus far. The accomplishment was highlighted by GAIA's Chief Executive Officer, Hadley Bourne, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Bourne expressed optimism, observing the bustling Departure lounge and a similarly busy Arrivals hall, and remarked, "We're hopeful that there...
Exciting prospects are on the horizon as Barbados takes center stage in establishing direct airlinks with Saudi Arabia. A significant step towards this goal occurred on November 15, 2023, with the launch of a groundbreaking 12-hour test flight operated by SAUDIA (Saudi Arabian Airlines). Departing from Antigua, the flight made stops in Barbados and Miami to pick up additional Caribbean passengers before...
The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) is optimistic about the upcoming 2023/2024 winter season, anticipating positive developments despite not having fully regained the airlift capacity of 2019. In their quarterly briefing at the association's headquarters, BHTA Chairman Renée Coppin expressed confidence in the months of December 2023 and April 2024, where capacity is expected to surpass that...
The Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn, announced plans for a more standardized property valuation process in Barbados. The government intends to introduce new legislation to Parliament to align property valuations for insurance, land tax payments, and property sales. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and International Property Tax...
In the next 12 to 24 months, Barbados could witness a significant construction boom, potentially leading to the importation of labor, according to James Edghill, co-founder of construction development firm One Builders. Edghill based his forecast on several planned projects, a low unemployment rate, and sustained economic growth in the country. Edghill emphasized the need for creativity in addressing...
Virgin Atlantic is set to enhance its service to Barbados for the upcoming winter season, with the total weekly flights to and from the island increasing to a staggering 24 flights per week. Starting from January 8, 2024, Barbados will enjoy the unprecedented luxury of double daily flights from London Heathrow, accompanied by four weekly flights departing from Manchester. In addition, Virgin Atlantic...
The Minister of Tourism in Barbados is optimistic about the island's prospects as a top destination for UK travelers, thanks to an upcoming surge in airlift. During a trade event in London marking the launch of World Travel Market 2023, Ian Gooding-Edghill expressed his enthusiasm for the pivotal partnerships Barbados has established with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Both airlines are committed to...
JetBlue and CIBC FirstCaribbean have teamed up in collaboration with Mastercard, a global leader in the payments industry, to introduce a pair of new credit cards tailored for customers in five Caribbean countries where JetBlue operates. These innovative offerings, the JetBlue Mastercard and JetBlue Select Mastercard by CIBC FirstCaribbean, are designed to deliver a host of exclusive rewards, benefits,...
CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited is set to undergo a significant transformation as it rebrands its operations to align with its parent company, CIBC. In an announcement made by Chief Executive Officer Mark St Hill on Tuesday morning, the rebranding process is slated to be completed during the upcoming financial year. St Hill emphasized that the decision to adopt the CIBC brand underscores...