Argyle International Airport

Argyle International Airport
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Operator Argyle International Airport Inc.
Serves St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Location Argyle
Opened February 14, 2017 (2017-02-14)
Hub for
Time zone AST (UTC−04:00)
Elevation AMSL 136 ft / 41 m
Coordinates 13°09′23″N 061°09′01″W / 13.15639°N 61.15028°W / 13.15639; -61.15028Coordinates: 13°09′23″N 061°09′01″W / 13.15639°N 61.15028°W / 13.15639; -61.15028
Website www.svg-airport.com
Map
Argyle International Airport
Location in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 2,743.2 9,000 Asphalt
Source: General Specifications.[1] Coordinates are approximate.

Argyle International Airport (IATA: SVD, ICAO: TVSA) (often referred to as Argyle Airport or simply AIA) is a newly constructed international airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, about 5.17 miles (8.32 km) from Kingstown. The airport is one of St Vincent and the Grenadines most important infrastructure assets and the country's first international airport. It is the largest of five airports in the multi-island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the largest international gateway into the country, the others being J. F. Mitchell Airport in Bequia, Canouan Airport, Mustique Airport and Union Island Airport all in the Grenadines. The airport is the second solar-powered airport in the Caribbean, following V. C. Bird International Airport in Antigua.

The project broke ground on August 13, 2008, with a work team, comprising of Vincentians and Cubans (the Chatoyer-Che Contingent) and the airport officially opened on February 14, 2017 when a Dynamic Airways charter flight became the first international aircraft to touch down at Argyle.[2] Argyle International Airport replaced the E.T. Joshua Airport as St. Vincent and the Grenadines principal airport. During the construction of the new airport, the International Airport Development Company (IADC) faced numerous challenges and controversies, causing major delays in the construction process. This resulted in the airport being completed 5 years after the originally forecasted completion date.[3]

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducts the International Aviation Safety Assessment Program (IASA), assessing the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of each country that has carriers operating to the United States and has classified Argyle International Airport, which operates under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA), a USFAA category one (1) civil aviation jurisdiction.[4]

The airport is a primary hub for SVG Air, a national airline of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, along with Mustique Airways. SVG Air and Mustique Airways have combined to form a SVG Air-Grenadine Air Alliance, operating 17 Aircraft, with bases in St. Vincent, Antigua and Grenada.[5] Offering visitors and residents a wider choice of International Gateways in and out of St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

Air Canada Rouge, Caribbean Airlines, Sunwing Airlines and Leeward Islands Air Transport or LIAT currently provide regularly scheduled passenger services at Argyle International Airport. EasySky, which began flying to St Vincent from Havana, Cuba in June 2017, is currently in negotiations with authorities to recommence its twice weekly service.[6] American Airlines has announced it will begin serving the airport on December 15, 2018.[7] The airport also receives many international charter flights.

In September 2017, Air Caraïbes sent two of their fleet, an ATR 72-500 and an ATR 72-600 to Argyle International Airport from Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport in Guadeloupe to shelter from Hurricane Maria.

History

San Francisco (26-431): One of four Loening OA-1A amphibian planes that landed at Kingstown harbor in 1927.
An aerial view of AIA
Future site of AIA
420-kilowatt Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system at AIA

Argyle International Airport (AIA) was built in 2017, in response to the growing airport traffic needs that E.T. Joshua Airport could not accommodate. The new airport will be able to handle 1.5 million passengers per year, more than five times the capacity at E.T. Joshua and offer 23 commercial spaces, three restaurants and several spots for kiosks. Increasing the accessibility to this multi-island destination and be a key economic driver for the country, attracting direct flights from Canada, the US, the UK and more, fueling investments.

The idea for an international-class airport on the main island of St Vincent goes a long way back. For many years, the islanders have recognized that tourism had the potential to become the country’s most important economic sector. The decision to construct on a greenfield site at Argyle was based mainly on the potential contribution of the international airport to tourism and agriculture development and the physical restrictions on expanding the existing E.T. Joshua Airport.

The official opening of the new Argyle International Airport marks an important chapter in St. Vincent and the Grenadines aviation industry and economic development. With its advanced capabilities, the airport will play a major role in placing St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the map as an ideal choice for Caribbean leisure travelers, as well as a convenient transfer hub, bolstering the country’s tourism traffic. This new national milestone would not have been possible had it not been for the visionary leadership of Dr. The Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves and the hard work and dedication of hundreds of individuals collaborating together towards a common goal, one that will bring about the prosperity of the entire Vincentian nation. The airport commenced full operations on February 14, 2017, replacing the defunct E.T. Joshua Airport.

Aviation timeline

Ninety years ago St. Vincent and the Grenadines entered the age of flight:[8]

  • On July 29, 1932, a Trinidadian pilot named Michael Cipriani flew into St. Vincent and landed his plane at the Diamond airfield. The island has a history of aviation with its first airport at Diamond which was officially commissioned in 1934. The code SVD came to life due to the first landing strip at Diamond.
  • In the 1950s, Villa was the choice for the airport, the Grumman Goose amphibious airplanes landed and took off from the water in front of Villa Beach in the Young Island Channel.
  • In 1961, The demand on aviation outgrew Villa and the airport then moved on to Arnos Vale which became E.T. Joshua Airport, which had served the island for decades but had only been able to receive regional flights from neighboring islands in the Caribbean.
  • Argyle International Airport was inaugurated on February 13, 2017, by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves. The new airport was officially launched followed by an overnight operational transfer.
  • Official opening of Argyle International Airport. The country closed E.T. Joshua Airport as of midnight on the February 14, 2017 and operations began at Argyle International Airport with the first commercial flight leaving AIA at 6:45am that morning for Barbados via LIAT.[9]

Costs

AIA during construction
President Ma of the Republic of China (Taiwan) visits AIA during construction

The Argyle International Airport is the largest capital project in the history of the country, with its US $259 million or 700 million East Caribbean dollars price tag representing nearly one half of St. Vincent and the Grenadines gross domestic product.

The new airport was financed by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines with grants, donations and loans from countries including Cuba, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of China (Taiwan), Mexico, Austria, Malaysia, Turkey, Qatar, Iran and Libya.[10] Diverse nations were effectively put in to a "Coalition of the Willing". Soft-loans were obtained from the ALBA Bank, Petro Caribe and the CARICOM Development Fund. Other loans were negotiated, too, from other financial institutions, facilitated through Export Credit Guarantees from state agencies in Canada, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

While there were many small contributions, there were several large contributions made by two groups; the Returning Nationals SVG[11] and the Friends of the Argyle International Airport USA.[12] The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines sold lands in order to finance the purchase of the built properties and vacant lots at Argyle so as to site the airport. The Government contribution to the project is estimated at around 30% of the total cost. Supportive Vincentians have also made their own contributions.[13]

Overview

International departure check-in, with 'Vinci Love' LED chandeliers
Domestic departure check-in
Argyle's VIP lounge
Inside Argyle's International departure lounge.

Argyle International Airport is the sole international airport of the five airports serving St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The airport has portraits of Fidel Castro, Hugo Chávez and Patrick Manning on a wall in the international departure lounge.[14] The late former leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago respectively, along with the former president of Taiwan, Chen Shui Bian, formed the coalition of the willing who first pledge support and their countries resources for the airport project.

Attempts by the previous government led by Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell, Premier and Prime Minister of St.Vincent and the Grenadines for 18 years, (premier 1972-1974, prime minister 1984-2000) to lengthen the E.T. Joshua Airport runway were unsuccessful. Engineers had advised that the runway could have been extended by 2,000 feet into the sea, as requested by American Eagle. At a projected cost of US $50 million, this would have allowed regional jets, with service as far as Miami and South America with up to 120 passengers, to safely fly in and out of E.T. Joshua Airport.[15] According to Prime Minister Mitchell, his government invited tenders for the final design at Arnos Vale. He stated, "I turned over the contract documents for a successful tender by a Canadian company to my successor Arnhim Eustace to sign, but he decided to wait until the next election (which he lost) and cancelled the visit arranged for Kuwaiti officials". The original conceptual designs for the airport were developed by RCGA Architects-Interior Designers.

One of the pillars of the election manifesto of the government, the Unity Labor Party (ULP) administration led by Dr. The Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves that came to power in 2001, was to build a modern airport on St. Vincent, capable of dealing with commercial jet liners. In 2003 and 2004, the government held firm on its election promise and began to put systems in place to get the development of the airport building underway. According to Dr. Rudy Matthias, CEO of the IADC, the private limited liability company, owned by the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which spearheaded the airport development. From the outset, there were huge challenges: First finding a good site because St. Vincent is a mountainous country. Most of the people on the island live on the coastal areas. So there are not many places where you have enough flat land to build an international airport, which has a runway 9,000 feet long. Eventually, a site was found, but it wasn't flat. Three mountains had to be reduced, two large valleys needed to be filled, a river spanned and the purchase of 135 homes and land (275 acres of land cost the IADC about US $60 million) owned by private individuals to create an area flat enough to house an airport and its runway. Second finding financing given the enormous construction cost, relative to the size of the local economy. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has a very small economy and a small tax base, so the financing had to be creative to work. The total cost estimate for the airport was four time what it cost to buy the site, in the region of US $240 million, which go some way to explaining why the country hadn’t had this airport before then. These challenges are also what make the delivery of the airport so remarkable.[16]

Choice of location

Argyle International Airport: International & Domestic terminals

The without-project scenario implies that the existing E.T. Joshua Airport would have to be extended. According to the conclusions of previous studies this option, however, is not financially or economically justifiable and considered as technically unfeasible.

Due to various site-related factors an expanded airport at Arnos Vale would not gain classification as an international airport under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) regulations and standards. While it would be possible to extend the existing runway to the required length, the width required for an international airport strip cannot be achieved at this site. The existing restrictions on landing and takeoff are impossible to alter in Arnos Vale, as none of the required changes at Arnos Vale would alleviate the problems related to down-wind-takeoff. In practice and because of prevailing tailwinds, jet aircraft and even turboprop aircraft would have to operate at reduced passenger and payload levels, even if the runway would be extended.

Besides the possible upgrade of the E.T. Joshua Airport and the extension of its runway, two other sites were being considered for the construction of the new airport to accommodate more passengers and larger aircraft from cities that are further away: Argyle on the eastern side of the island and Kitchen on the southeast.

The Kitchen site was technically feasible for an international airport, but its estimated cost was prohibitive in that it was at lease twice the cost of a possible construction at Argyle; in any event, the Kitchen site had enormous environmental problems and would have rendered the core "hotel lands" on St. Vincent more problematic for useful development.

Compared to the other alternatives studied, the Argyle site was technically feasible and offers three main advantages:

  • The entire runway is located on the land;
  • The runway is more or less perpendicular to the Yambou River;
  • There is an advantageous relation between cut and fill volumes.

The disadvantage is, the still relatively large volume of excavation works and quite costly for the construction of an international airport, but this applies to all alternatives. Thus on the central economic / financial, technical, aeronautical and environmental grounds, Argyle was assessed by the experts to be the best available site. As a result, Argyle was selected as the site for the new international airport and work began on the August 8, 2008.

Opening

Water salute for Dynamic Airways B767-300ER inaugural flight
AIA commemorative plaque
AIA Interpretation Centre
Caribbean Airlines Boeing 737-800
Valentine's Day "Love is in the Air"
Sunwing Airlines Boeing 737-800
Civil Aviation Compound signage

On December 29, 2016, after five years of being behind schedule to open Argyle International Airport, its opening on February 14, 2017 was announced by Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves and reported in the Antigua Observer and The Stabroek News.[17]

On January 23, 2017, The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) grants authorization for commencement of operations at the AIA.

On February 13, 2017, a Flag Raising and Military Parade [18] was held as well as the unveiling of a plaque. The ceremony was addressed by Prime Minister Gonsalves, Taiwan’s Ambassador to the island and other Government Officials.

Tempo Networks, the first and only pan-Caribbean media and entertainment company was in St Vincent on February 14, 2017, for the official opening of the Argyle International Airport.[19]

The event had morphed into a regional success which saw some foreign dignitaries, including Presidents, Vice Presidents, current Prime Ministers and former Prime Ministers from the region in attendance.

It was history in the making when Dynamic Airways 767-300ER landed at the Argyle International Airport that morning around 7:07am. The airline had the privilege of being the first commercial international flight to land. Making its way from New York City with a number of passengers, then it was on to Guyana. Later EasySky 737-200 landed from Cuba with a number of Vincentian students and 60 former Cuban workers.

Caribbean Airlines made an inaugural chartered flight[20] out of New York City, while Sunwing Airlines scheduled a chartered flight from Toronto. These two airlines touched down at the Argyle International Airport one hour apart for the grand opening.[21]

Due to limited direct international flights, some visitors and Vincentians who wish to travel extra-regionally continue to make connecting flights to and from Argyle International Airport with regional carriers like Grenadine Airways, Mustique Airways,[22] Fly One Caribbean,[23] SVG Air.[24] and LIAT via Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados, Hewanorra International Airport in St. Lucia or the Maurice Bishop International Airport in Grenada.

Two other international charter flight landed at the Argyle International Airport for St. Vincent and the Grenadines — Vincy Mas 2017, late June/early July[25], [26] Miami Air International from Toronto and Sun Country Airlines from New York.

Air Canada Rouge made their inaugural flight from Toronto-Pearson International Airport to Argyle International Airport on December 14, 2017.[27] While Caribbean Airlines began weekly non-stop service between Argyle International Airport and New York-John F. Kennedy International Airport on March 14, 2018.[28] Flights from Toronto and New York City are now selling.

1st Anniversary

The Argyle International Airport (AIA), celebrated one year of operations on February 14, 2018.[29] To mark this first anniversary, a small group of aviation enthusiasts, based in London and San Francisco, with family ties in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, had funded what appears to be one of the most spectacular LED chandeliers in the region. The chandelier served as an anniversary gift to the AIA and was dubbed, ‘Vinci Love.’

Aircraft spotting

The "Johnson Hill" area in Argyle Gardens is a prime location for aircraft spotting, especially for landings and takeoffs at Runway 04. With a clear view of the terminals, spotters may watch such a wide variety of commercial airliner activities at the airport. On opening day vehicles and spectators lined Johnson Hill to witness the historic landing of Dynamic Airways, the first commercial international flight to land at the airport. A year later on Saturday, February 17, 2018[30] many Vincentians returned to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the opening of the Argyle International Airport.

Facilities

Sun Country Airlines Boeing 737-800
Miami Air Boeing 737-800
LIAT ATR 42-600 taxies at Argyle
Caribbean Airlines ATR 72-600
Amerijet Boeing 767-200F
Caribbean Airlines approaching the International Aerobridge at gate 7
Argyle terminals, aprons and taxiways as seen from control tower.
Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) stations
1,000 ft long mural and parking lot
Passengers in AIA arrival hall

Infrastructure

The Argyle International Airport (AIA)[31] is built on 290 acres (117 hectares) site and includes a Passenger Terminal Building (The airport has two adjacent terminals. The integrated passenger terminal is used for both international and domestic air traffic), a Cargo Terminal Building, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) stations, signage, access roads, a runway, three aprons, two taxiways and other infrastructure. There is no overnight accommodation at the airport but there are plans to build an airport hotel to serve transit flyers.

Runway and aprons

Runway at Argyle International Airport
SWLengthWidthNE Notes
04 → 9,000 ft
2,743 m		148 ft
45 m		 ← 22 Equipped at both ends with Category I ILS, Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI) and runway edge lighting. Runway 04 has an additional visual aid for landing aircraft, an Approach Lighting System (ALS).

Argyle International Airport usually receives a wide variety of long-, mid- and short-haul aircraft. The airport's single runway southwest-northeasterly direction is 04/22, having a length of 2,743 meters (9,000 feet) long and 45 meters (148 feet) wide, with turning bays at the end for backtracking. There are two taxiways connecting the runway with the aprons. The airport aprons can accommodate up to 40 airplanes (2 aerobridge and 38 remote) simultaneously and is designed to accommodate jets as large as the Boeing 747-400s. The airport is able to handle three wide body aircraft at one time, with additional six parking places for general aviation ATR type aircraft.

As a result of the trade winds that blow northeast across St Vincent, Runway 04 is usually used for landings, i.e. for approaches from the southwest, while take-offs are made from Runway 04 towards the northeast. This results in a typical flight path for arriving aircraft along the south coast of St Vincent, while departing flights usually fly along the east coast of the island. However, when the wind direction changes, such as with passing hurricanes or tropical systems, landings are made using Runway 22 from the northeast, while the runway for take-offs is Runway 22 towards the southwest.

The aprons are categorized as commercial, general aviation and cargo aprons. The commercial apron covers 35,632 square meters (383,540 square feet) and serves international passengers, while the general aviation apron, located south of the commercial apron, covers 46,784 square meters (503,579 square feet). The cargo apron, located further south below the general aviation apron, covers an area of 7,920 square meters (85,250 square feet) and also includes parking space for aircraft. The cargo apron is capable of handling two wide-bodied aircraft.

Terminals

The passenger dual international/domestic terminal building has three levels and was constructed with about 13,470 square meters (144,990 square feet) of floor space to accommodate 1.5 million travelers per year at the Argyle International Airport, with a dedicated cargo terminal used for international freight operations. The airport also provides facilities for passengers departing and arriving on private aircraft and business jets including five lounges and conference room. At the expected rate of growth of passengers, the Argyle International Airport terminal building, as designed, is expected to meet the needs of travelers for the next 20 years.

The state-of-the-art new integrated terminal building is divided into two sections: the International Terminal and the Domestic Terminal. The international terminal was built to accommodate 1,000 passengers per hour for arrival or departure. The Domestic Terminal is used for intra-island travel between the mainland St. Vincent and its sister Grenadines islands. The terminal building has 9 gates in total, 2 with international aerobridges and 7 ground level tarmac departure / arrival gates (1 international, 4 regional and 2 domestic). Both terminals cater to the needs of all travelers with a wheel chair service available upon request as well as several service facilities, duty-free shops and a currency exchange booth (banking provided by the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, BOSVG). The airport was designed with two viewing decks and waving galleries, one each on the second level of both terminals.

International Terminal

The International Terminal, which is used for international arrivals and departures, is equipped with an automated baggage handling system, an integrated check-in system, three elevators, two escalators for ease of passenger movement throughout the building, two baggage claim carousels and two state of the art glass walled jet bridges for international travel and docking of large commercial aircraft (allowing passengers to board and disembark without going outside or being exposed to the elements), plus ticketing, security checkpoint, Customs and Immigration. The design meets IATA service standards and complies with ICAO safety and security standards. Travelers also have several options as it relates to dining and shopping.

Domestic Terminal

The Domestic Terminal handles all domestic flights, catering to passengers traveling to the Grenadines, with airports on the islands of Bequia, Canouan, Mustique and Union Island, with water taxis or charter yachts to the Tobago Cays and Mayreau and private boat transfers to the exclusive luxury island retreats on Palm Island and Petit St. Vincent (PSV) from Union Island. This terminal features its own check-in, airside facilities and baggage claim carousel, but no Immigration facilities and is located next to the international arrivals hall and boasts a VIP lounge, a grab and go and an outside bar.

Cargo Terminal

The cargo terminal located south of the passenger terminal and adjacent to the aircraft maintenance hangars is used for cargo imports and exports. The facility includes a large building with a 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) warehouse space, including a section for refrigerated freight, a perishable cargo handling facility which offer direct ramp access for cargo airlines as well as exporters of perishable goods, a dedicated cargo apron, vehicle parking and a truck maneuvering area. The airport's Cargo-handling facilities include heavy fork lifts, roller pallet lifts, belt loader and pushback tug. The airport is a gateway for foreign export.

Air traffic control tower

The air traffic control tower is a 4-story building positioned on elevated land immediately to the south of the cargo-handling facilities and aircraft maintenance hangars. The upper level of the control tower houses the aerodrome and ground control. The approach control and instrument room is on the third level, while the emergency operation center is on the second level, with rest and recuperation facilities for air traffic control officers on the lower level.

From the tower, air traffic controllers are able to see 5 mi (8.0 km) beyond the thresholds of the runway plus a complete view of the runway, taxiways, aprons and the approach and takeoff zones of the runway in compliance with ICAO standards. The tower, additional building complex and its associated technical block and mechanical plant building are part of the Civil Aviation Compound with the aviation services department consisting of:

The airport is equipped with modernized Instrument Landing System (ILS) and navigational aids such as VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) / Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) and Non-Directional Beacon (NDB), [32] along with a fully lit runway with runway edge lighting, Runway end identifier lights (REIL), taxiways and apron for night operations. Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI), Approach Lighting System (ALS), radio navigators and Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS).

The airport's official operating hours are 06:00–22:00.

Fire and rescue

The Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) facility is located on the eastern side of the runway and meets the required response time to any incident in accordance with ICAO annex 14. AIA falls under category nine (9) of the Aerodrome Category (ICAO Index).

The building accommodates up to 16 officers with dorms, kitchen and dining facilities, training room, alarm room, paramedic bay, apparatus and ambulance bays. There are thirty-three AIA firefighters, who are trained[33] through various local and international institutions including College of the Rockies in British Columbia, Warren County Career Center in Ohio, Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) in England and Fire Emergency Services Training Institute (FESTI) in Canada. Four of our firefighters are also experienced medics, one with a master’s degree in Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health from the University of the West Indies (UWI). Our three Oshkosh Striker fire fighting vehicles at AIA each carries 3,300 gallons of water, 420 gallons of Aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) and 450 pounds of dry chemical Purple-K (PKP). As it relates to the discharge rate, AIA’s bumper turret trucks discharge 300 gallons of water per minute while the roof turret trucks discharge 1,250 gallons.

Ground transportation

Taxi service and several car rental agencies are available from the airport. Ground transportation to/from the airport is limited to taxi and private vehicles. Public Transit does not serve the airport. There is also a commercial car park to accommodate about 250 cars, space for ten large buses and additional space for taxis and rental cars.

Passenger services

High Flyers

The airport contains a small historical display near the international departure check-in. The AIA Interpretation Centre has captured AIA’s construction over the years (2005 – 2017) and the significant players along the way. A 1,000 ft long mural painted by first year students of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC). There are also numerous art/photography displays by local artists, like Calvert Jones and Lennox "Dinks" Johnson around the terminal. There is a full restaurant, High Flyers restaurant and two café/bars, one each in the check-in and transit area. Gonsalves Liquors and The Trend apparel and fashion accessories duty-free shop in the post security area. As well as Giggles souvenirs & local craft store and St. Vincent Jewelry located pre-security near the entrances. Banking, telecommunication, free Wi-Fi, two (2) VIP lounges, a conference room and a tourist information centre (managed by the Ministry of Tourism) located on the arrival side. Waiting times for check-in and baggage claims are relatively short compared to other larger regional airports. The airport is not crowded and basic facilities are available for users.

Kayan Aviation Holdings will soon commence Fixed Based Operations (FBO) to provide additional service activities incidental to air transportation[34] and construct a Commercially Important People (CIP) lounge that can be used by any passenger traveling in any class, on any airline, through any terminal at the airport.

Airlines and destinations

Air Canada Rouge A319 docked at gate 6 at the international terminal with a wide range of ground handling equipments around.
Airlines on the apron at night.
Airlines at Argyle, control tower view.
Rubis fuel farm and Civil aviation compound in the background.
Cargo-handling facilities and aircraft maintenance hangars.
The Trend-Duty Free apparel and fashion accessories

The busiest international routes are Toronto and New York, while the busiest regional routes remain Barbados and Trinidad. The following airlines operate regular scheduled and shared charter flights to and from Argyle International Airport:[35]

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Air Adelphi Seasonal Charter: Mustique
Air Antilles Charter: Martinique
Air Canada Rouge Toronto–Pearson[36]
American Airlines Miami (begins December 15, 2018)[37]
Caribbean Airlines New York–JFK, Port of Spain
Fly One Caribbean Charter: Barbados, Bequia, Canouan, Dominica–Douglas/Charles, Grenada, Kingston–Norman Manley, Port of Spain, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia–Charles, San Juan, Sint Maarten, St. Martin, Tortola
Grenadine Airways Charter: Barbados, Bequia, Canouan, Mustique, Saint Lucia– Hewanorra, Union Island
LIAT Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Port of Spain, Saint Lucia- Charles
Miami Air Seasonal Charter: Toronto–Pearson
Mustique Airways Barbados, Bequia, Canouan, Mustique, Union Island
Charter: Grenada, Martinique, Saint Lucia–Charles, Saint Lucia– Hewanorra
Sun Country Airlines Seasonal Charter: New York–JFK
Sunwing Airlines Charter: Toronto–Pearson
SVG Air Barbados, Bequia, Canouan, Mustique, Saint Lucia– Hewanorra, Union Island
Charter: Antigua, Carriacou, Grenada

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Air Cargo Carriers Charter: Grenada
Amerijet International Antigua, Barbados, Miami, Port-of-Spain, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia– Hewanorra, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo–Las Américas
DHL Aviation Dominica-Canefield, Martinique, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Port-of-Spain, Saint Lucia–Charles
FedEx Express
operated by Mountain Air Cargo 		Aguadilla, Martinique, Grenada, Saint Lucia–Charles
M&N Aviation Charter: Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia–Charles, San Juan

Notable flights

On December 6, 2015, a LIAT ATR 72-600 plane, with 53 passengers including Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves on board, landed at an uncompleted Argyle International Airport. The flight was greeted by a sea of cheering red-clad supporters of the ruling Unity Labor Party and was one of seven planes that landed that afternoon.[38]

Other facilities

  • The airport houses the St. Vincent Outstation of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority.[39]
  • The Civil Aviation Compound, which houses the Aviation Services Departments of Air Traffic, Meteorological[40] and Aviation Security Oversight is on the airport grounds.
  • Mustique Airways headquarters, aircraft maintenance hangars and facilities are on the airport property.[41]
  • The Mustique Company / Air Adelphi aircraft maintenance hangars, repair and overhaul facility are on the airport property.
  • The airport is connected by a 722 m (2,369 ft) subsea pipeline spanning from a tanker’s mooring position off Stubbs Bay to a pump house located at the southern end of the runway and to the Rubis Aviation fuel storage facilities, the supplier of unleaded kerosene (Jet A-1) and Avgas (aviation gasoline) aviation fuels at the Argyle International Airport.[42] Due to the limited space, the fuel tank farm is located on a hill behind the cargo terminal and maintenance facilities (hangars).
  • A Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Renewal Energy system, which supplies the Argyle International Airport with 420-kilowatts of electricity, have Solar Panels mounted near Runway 04 on airport property.

Fixed-base operations

Fixed-base operators based at Argyle International Airport are AIA Handling Services and Vincy Aviation Services. They handle fueling, ground handling, aircraft cleaning, cargo service and aircraft maintenance.

Incidents and accidents

Gonsalves Liquors-Duty free
  • Trinidadian soca artist Benjai recorded an official music video for his song "Phenomenal", in 2015 at several locations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, namely: Long Island at Indian Bay, Argyle International Airport site and Beachcombers at Villa.[48]

Controversy

Some observers have questioned whether St. Vincent and the Grenadines needs an international airport. If it does, they ask, can the country afford to build - and maintain - an international airport while running an EC$151 million deficit as of February 2016. All of this with public sector expenses increasing (Prime Minister Gonsalves announced in parliament in January 2016 that wages and salaries for central government employees will experience a "huge increase" in 2016 by 7.3 million EC dollars) taking the total to EC $281.8 million. The government also owes the private sector an amount nearing 100 million East Caribbean dollars.

Government sources had originally stated that the airport project would cost around US$240 million or 700 million East Caribbean dollars and would replace the existing E.T. Joshua Airport. Other sources cite a figure of one billion ($1,000,000,000) EC dollars as being nearer to the cost of the project. Some sources indicate that, when complete, the airport will have a passenger capacity nearly four times that of the E.T. Joshua Airport.[49]

According to the Dr. Hon. Ralph Gonsalves administration, the government of Cuba, the Republic of China, and Venezuela were involved in helping with the construction of the airport. The runway was made to be 9,000 feet long and 150 feet wide.

The new airport was originally scheduled to open in 2011. As of February 2016 the project has cost in excess of EC $729 million with increases in costs expected and has suffered from many delays. Paving on the runway was still incomplete as of February 2016.[50]

Except for regional airlines, The airport was only open for chartered International flights for which the Government of St Vincent paid. To this date, there are no commercial traffic scheduled for this airport, other than Air Canada Rouge, Sunwing Airlines, Liat Airlines, Caribbean Airlines and American Airlines.

In a "historic" address on August 8, 2005, Prime Minister Gonsalves stated, "Foreign investors often shy away from St. Vincent and the Grenadines when the limitations of air access arise due to the absence of an international airport". Critics have responded saying that the prime minister's statement is invalid and incorrect: on the contrary, many foreign concerns have invested in St. Vincent and the Grenadines from as early as the 1960s, after the Arnos Vale airport was constructed (and later renamed in memory of the humble E.T. Joshua). These investments include the highly-successful Mustique Company which also uses a well-organised, very effective shuttle from Grantley Adams International in Barbados direct to Mustique - which has its own appropriately-sized airstrip. It is a historical fact that the airstrip on Mustique was deliberately restricted in size as a function of the vision for Mustique as a very private, ultra-luxury destination that, therefore, would not want to facilitate any aircraft with a capacity to carry more that six persons at a time to Mustique. Mustique Company runs an internationally renowned, private, exclusive resort - one of the most successful globally - catering to the world's wealthiest - and has done so for 50 years - all without an international airport in St. Vincent. This was also accomplished by the several mid to high-end tourism plants in Bequia, Union island and Canouan (which all have airports as well).

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.svgiadc.com/images/Publication/newsletter%202015%202nd%20qt.pdf
  2. ↑ "Argyle International Airport to open for chartered flights only, on February 14". Antigua Observer Newspaper. 2016-12-29. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  3. ↑ "Argyle International Airport to open for chartered flights only, on February 14". Antigua Observer Newspaper. 2016-12-29. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  4. ↑ ECCAA achieves category one status
  5. ↑ Ben Harrison - International Correspondent (17 February 2017). "SVG Air / Grenadine Air Alliance: Bridging the gap". The Vencentian Newspaper.
  6. ↑ Easysky to recommence flights from Cuba
  7. ↑ American Airlines Miami to AIA update
  8. ↑ “An Apex Moment: From Diamond Airstrip to Argyle International, an Illustrated History of the Airports of SVG, 1932-2017” By Dr. Garrey Dennie
  9. ↑ "LIAT congratulates SVG on opening of Argyle International Airport". Searchlight Newspaper. 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  10. ↑ Controversial St. Vincent’s airport finally opens
  11. ↑ Patmos Richards (2013-08-15). "Returning Nationals on the move". The Vincentian Newspaper. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  12. ↑ Nelson A. King (2013-03-28). "Hundreds Support Fundraiser For International Airport". The Vincentian Newspaper. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  13. ↑ Nelson A. King (2017-01-24). "Ex-teachers prez welcomes opening of Argyle International Airport". Caribbean Life. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  14. ↑ Manning, Castro and Chavez to be honored at Argyle International Airport
  15. ↑ Mitchell, Sir James (2012). St. Vincent and the Grenadines the Ungovernable. p. 7.
  16. ↑ The Sustainable Business Review - St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Argyle International Airport Development. Published on May 21, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Argyle International Airport to open February 14". Antigua Observer Newspaper. 2016-12-29. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  18. ↑ Argyle International Airport opening
  19. ↑ Tempo to broadcast official AIA opening
  20. ↑ Nelson A. King (2017-02-09). "Inaugural flight to Argyle International Airport". Caribbean Life. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  21. ↑ Sunwing Airlines update
  22. ↑ Mustique Airways – Scheduled flights 2017 - 2018
  23. ↑ Private charter, shared Non-Schedule flights and Shuttle Services. Fly One Caribbean
  24. ↑ SVG Air – Scheduled flights retrieved 11 March 2018
  25. ↑ St Vincent and the Grenadines Carnival
  26. ↑ Charter flights for Vincy Mas 2017
  27. ↑ Air Canada Rouge update
  28. ↑ Official launching ceremony for Caribbean Airlines JFK-SVG service
  29. ↑ AIA celebrates 1st year anniversary
  30. ↑ "Big AIA first anniversary celebration tomorrow". Searchlight Newspaper. 2018-02-16. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  31. ↑ Airport Technology
  32. ↑ "Argyle International Airport - Information (TVSA)".
  33. ↑ Argyle International Airport fire fighters receives specialist training
  34. ↑ Argyle International Airport signs MOU with Kayan Aviation Holdings
  35. ↑ Air Charter Advisors retrieved 3 August 2016
  36. ↑ "Air Canada Rouge To Commence Year Round Service To St Vincent". news784.com. June 25, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  37. ↑ American Airlines schedule update
  38. ↑ "LIAT 456 gets huge welcome at Argyle International Airport". Searchlight Newspaper. 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  39. ↑ St. Vincent Outstation. Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved on 23 December 2012.
  40. ↑ St. Vincent and the Grenadines Meteorological Services.
  41. ↑ Mustique Airways breaks ground for AIA aircraft hangar
  42. ↑ Rubis to embark on phase 2 of construction of its aviation facilities at Argyle International Airport
  43. ↑ Harro Ranter (4 August 1986). "ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 310 V2-LCJ Saint Vincent-Arnos Vale Airport (SVD)". Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  44. ↑ Searchlight Newspaper 22 November 2006
  45. ↑ "Search still On For Missing St Vincent Pilot". Jamaica-Gleaner.com. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  46. ↑ Caribbean Airlines aircraft makes emergency landing after takeoff from St. Vincent, Searchlight Newspaper 29 August 2018
  47. ↑ Aviation Safety Network 29 August 2018
  48. ↑ "Local company produces Benjai's video at Argyle airport site". Searchlight Newspaper. 2015-02-15. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
  49. ↑ "St. Vincent and the Grenadines moves mountains for airport". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  50. ↑ "Private sector didn't expect Argyle airport to be completed in 2014". 16 February 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2016.

Bibliography

  • Avila, Tomas (22 December 2012). Argyle International Airport: Strength To Accomplish The Unthinkable. Milenio Publishing, LLC.
  • IADC - Argyle International Airport: St. Vincent And The Grenadines Brand New Gateway – 21 May 2016: International Airport Development Company, LLC.
  • Renwick Rose (10 February 2017). "Argyle International Airport – The Realization of a Dream". Searchlight.vc.
  • An Apex Moment: From Diamond Airstrip to Argyle International - Commemorative magazine – 14 February 2017: Published by Interactive Media Limited, SVG.
  • Douglas McGregor Brisbane (9 March 2018). "Argyle International Airport - My Final Chapter (one year after)". Searchlight.vc. (Our readers opinions).
  • Argyle International Airport: Pointing The Direction For A Small Caribbean Nation – 04 June 2018: The Sustainable Business Review.
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