Argyle International Airport, which serves the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, received its first commercial transatlantic flight from Virgin Atlantic.
On October 14, flights between Argyle (SVD) and London/Heathrow (LHR) were inaugurated with Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Operations will be conducted every Wednesday and Sunday, with a stopover in Barbados (BGI), offering 1,064 seats per week.
«We have a history of trading with the United Kingdom and the signature of these important instruments will enable St. Vincent and the Grenadines to facilitate even greater movement of people, goods and services, bridging the gap that keeps us apart as global citizens», said Carlos James, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Aviation Minister noted that St. Vincent and the Grenadines are ideally positioned to become a major aviation hub within the Caribbean region. After signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the aviation authorities of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on October 11.
For the first time in history, the country has greater access to major outbound markets throughout the Old Continent. It will also boost tourism and trade, which have been depressed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Argyle International Airport is the gateway to the country, which serves Kingstown, the capital city. It was inaugurated on February 14, 2017, replacing the small E.T. Joshua Airport which was congested and without room to expand.
The new airport will allow to service of jet aircraft and remote destinations, no longer relying on Barbados and St. Lucia as the departure and entry point to major cities.
Currently, Argyle is served by American Airlines to Miami (MIA); InterCaribbean to Grenada (GND) and Barbados (BGI); One Caribbean to Barbados (BGI); Caribbean Airlines to Barbados (BGI), Grenada (GND), Port of Spain (POS) and New York (JFK) and LIAT to Grenada (GND), Barbados (BGI), St. Lucia (SLU) and Antigua (ANU). As of December 2021, Air Canada will be added from Toronto (YYZ).
