Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (IATA: EIS, ICAO: TUPJ), previously known as Beef Island Airport, is the main airport serving the British Virgin Islands, a British overseas territory in the Caribbean. The airport serves as the gateway to just about all of the islands within the BVI. The airport is also a gateway for inter-Caribbean travelers headed to the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands. Many travellers fly into Beef Island, with the intention of taking a ferry to the other smaller British Virgin Islands. The airport is located on Beef Island, a small island off the main island of Tortola, to which it is connected by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
The Terrance B. Lettsome airport underwent a major $55 million renovation in 2004. After dredging was completed, the runway was expanded to allow larger planes to operate into the airfield. This renovation was the largest capital project ever undertaken in the territory at that time.
Some of the highlights of the renovation and expansion project include:
A new 46,000 sq ft (4,300 m2) terminal building
An enlarged flight apron
A new control tower
3,700 ft (1,128 m) runway extension
New airport road with expanded parking (150 parking stalls)
There is a $20 departure tax for anyone over the age of five years.
In 2016 the Government announced an expansion of the airport to increase the runway size by 2,504 feet (763 m).[3][4] This followed years of speculation and proposals; discussions about expansion and how to finance it were being undertaken in 2014.[5][6] Although initial reports indicated that the United Kingdom had approved the necessary financial borrowing,[7] later reports suggested that the UK's consent had been withheld in connection with concerns about the financial viability of the project.[8] Under agreed financial protocols, external borrowing by the BVI Government needs to be approved by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
On 27 December 2016 the Government announced that the tender to expand the airport had been won by China Communications Construction Company.[9] The Premier, Orlando Smith, said "Negotiations will now get underway with the preferred bidder with a view to concluding a contractual agreement within three months, which delivers the right outcome for the people of this territory."[9] According to Government, the runway was proposed to be extended from 4,645 feet (1,416 m) to approximately 7,100 feet (2,164 m), and would thereby allow mainline jetliner types such as Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320 aircraft to fly directly to and from the continental United States and Latin America.
However, in June 2017 the Government appeared to confirm that the proposed runway expansion would not be going forward.[10]
In 2019, a Titan Airways-operated Airbus A318-100 jet landed at the airport, which is the largest aircraft ever operated into the airport.[11]
Historically, in 1986 the airport had scheduled passenger jet service operated by British Caribbean Airways,[12][13] with direct flights to Miami. British Caribbean operated a British AerospaceBAe 146-100 jetliner. This was only jet service operated into Tortola at that time.
American Airlines has announced it would initiate a new nonstop jet service between Tortola and Miami on June 1, 2023, with these flights being operated by its American Eaglecode sharing affiliate with Embraer 175 regional jets.[16]
On 5 April 1971, a Vinair Douglas C-47 with registration N57372 operating an international cargo flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico crashed upon landing. The aircraft was heavily damaged and was written off.[17]
On 6 May 1993, a Short 330 turboprop operated by Atlantic Air BVI overran the runway and landed in the sea after aborting on takeoff. All passengers and crew survived. The airframe was damaged beyond economic repair and was sunk as a scuba diving site off Great Dog Island.[18]
On 18 July 2018, a private plane crashed after takeoff.[19] The pilot, who was the sole occupant in the plane, died.
^. airlinersgallery.smugmug.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014.
^"Will BVI Airways ever fly? Date remain unknown on 'clear for take off'". Virgin Islands News Online. 19 December 2016. The controversial bail out deal where a defunct airline that left owing the British Virgin Islands Airports Authority (BVIAA) close to US$100,000 is in the news again. The National Democratic Party (NDP) Government pumped some $7M of tax payers monies into the defunct BVI Airways, with a promise for direct flights between Miami, Florida, USA and the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport at Beef Island. The public has been given three start dates for when the first flight was to commence; at the end of October 2016, the other end of November 2016 and the final December 2016. To date none of the dates have come to pass and the public, the media and the Opposition remain skeptical about the Government's investment on the taxpayers back.
^"We need money to fly – BVI Airways lays off staff". BVI News. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
^https://www.aa.com/homePage.do, American Airlines flight schedules between Miami and Tortola & American Airlines newsroom press release
^"N57372 Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
^"Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
^"One Dead In Beef Island Plane Crash". BVI Platinum. 19 July 2018.
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Terrance B Lettsome International Airport IATA EIS ICAO TUPJ previously known as Beef Island Airport is the main airport serving the British Virgin Islands a British overseas territory in the Caribbean The airport serves as the gateway to just about all of the islands within the BVI The airport is also a gateway for inter Caribbean travelers headed to the nearby U S Virgin Islands Many travellers fly into Beef Island with the intention of taking a ferry to the other smaller British Virgin Islands The airport is located on Beef Island a small island off the main island of Tortola to which it is connected by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge Terrance B Lettsome International AirportIATA EISICAO TUPJSummaryAirport typePublicOperatorBVIAAServesBritish Virgin IslandsLocationBeef IslandElevation AMSL16 ft 5 mCoordinates18 26 44 N 064 32 35 W 18 44556 N 64 54306 W 18 44556 64 54306MapEISLocation in the British Virgin IslandsRunwaysDirection Length Surfacem ft07 25 1 415 4 642 AsphaltSource DAFIF 1 Contents 1 Overview 2 Expansion 3 Airlines and destinations 3 1 Passenger 3 1 1 The proposed return of jet service to Miami 3 2 Air BVI 3 3 Cargo 4 Accidents and incidents 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksOverview editThe Terrance B Lettsome airport underwent a major 55 million renovation in 2004 After dredging was completed the runway was expanded to allow larger planes to operate into the airfield This renovation was the largest capital project ever undertaken in the territory at that time Some of the highlights of the renovation and expansion project include A new 46 000 sq ft 4 300 m2 terminal building An enlarged flight apron A new control tower 3 700 ft 1 128 m runway extension New airport road with expanded parking 150 parking stalls There is a 20 departure tax for anyone over the age of five years The airport houses the BVI Outstation of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority 2 Expansion editIn 2016 the Government announced an expansion of the airport to increase the runway size by 2 504 feet 763 m 3 4 This followed years of speculation and proposals discussions about expansion and how to finance it were being undertaken in 2014 5 6 Although initial reports indicated that the United Kingdom had approved the necessary financial borrowing 7 later reports suggested that the UK s consent had been withheld in connection with concerns about the financial viability of the project 8 Under agreed financial protocols external borrowing by the BVI Government needs to be approved by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office On 27 December 2016 the Government announced that the tender to expand the airport had been won by China Communications Construction Company 9 The Premier Orlando Smith said Negotiations will now get underway with the preferred bidder with a view to concluding a contractual agreement within three months which delivers the right outcome for the people of this territory 9 According to Government the runway was proposed to be extended from 4 645 feet 1 416 m to approximately 7 100 feet 2 164 m and would thereby allow mainline jetliner types such as Boeing 737 800 and Airbus A320 aircraft to fly directly to and from the continental United States and Latin America However in June 2017 the Government appeared to confirm that the proposed runway expansion would not be going forward 10 In 2019 a Titan Airways operated Airbus A318 100 jet landed at the airport which is the largest aircraft ever operated into the airport 11 Airlines and destinations editPassenger edit AirlinesDestinationsAir SunshineDominica Douglas Charles Nevis Saint Kitts Saint Thomas San Juan Charter Saint Croix Sint MaartenAmerican EagleSeasonal MiamiCape AirSan Juan Seasonal Saint ThomasFly BVICharter Anegada Castries Virgin Gorda Saint Thomas San Juan Antigua Barbados Dominica Melville Hall Providenciales Grenada Nevis Punta Cana Saint Kitts Saint Vincent Vieux FortInterCaribbean AirwaysAntigua Dominica Douglas Charles San Juan Santo Domingo Las AmericasIsland BirdsCharter San Juan Saint Thomas Saint Croix Sint Maarten Anguilla Antigua Saint Kitts Nevis Barbuda Dominica CanefieldLIATAntigua Barbados Sint MaartenSilver AirwaysSan JuanSky HighSanto Domingo Las AmericasTrans Anguilla AirwaysAnguilla Virgin GordaVI AirlinkAnegada Antigua Saint Kitts Saint Thomas Virgin GordaCharter Anguilla Aruba Barbados Bonaire Canouan Curacao Dominica Melville Hall Fort de France Grand Turk Grenada Kingston La Romana Montego Bay Nassau Nevis Pointe a Pitre Port au Prince Port of Spain Providenciales Puerto Plata Punta Cana Saint Vincent San Juan Santo Domingo Las Americas Sint Maarten Dominica CanefieldWinairSint MaartenHistorically in 1986 the airport had scheduled passenger jet service operated by British Caribbean Airways 12 13 with direct flights to Miami British Caribbean operated a British Aerospace BAe 146 100 jetliner This was only jet service operated into Tortola at that time The proposed return of jet service to Miami edit Thirty years after the short lived British Caribbean Airways offered jet service to Miami utilizing British Aerospace BAe 146 100 aircraft Tortola based BVI Airways announced the start of new nonstop Miami service using Avro RJ100 jet airliners with this aircraft being a later version of the Bae 146 jet However the new service never flew and BVI Airways is now presumed to be defunct 14 having laid off all of its staff shortly before Hurricane Irma stuck in 2017 15 American Airlines has announced it would initiate a new nonstop jet service between Tortola and Miami on June 1 2023 with these flights being operated by its American Eagle code sharing affiliate with Embraer 175 regional jets 16 Air BVI edit Air BVI was an airline based at the airport which operated scheduled passenger service from the early the 1970s to the mid 1990s with Britten Norman BN 2 Islander and Douglas DC 3 prop aircraft as well as with Hawker Siddeley HS 748 turboprops during its existence The regional air carrier served Anegada Antigua La Romana Dominican Republic St Thomas U S Virgin Islands San Juan and Virgin Gorda besides Tortola and also operated a small hub at the airport Cargo edit Airline DestinationsAir Cargo Carriers Dominica Douglas Charles San JuanAir Sunshine Anguilla Dominica Nevis St Thomas San JuanDHL Aviation St BarthelemyFedEx Feeder operated by Mountain Air Cargo San JuanAccidents and incidents editOn 5 April 1971 a Vinair Douglas C 47 with registration N57372 operating an international cargo flight from San Juan Puerto Rico crashed upon landing The aircraft was heavily damaged and was written off 17 On 6 May 1993 a Short 330 turboprop operated by Atlantic Air BVI overran the runway and landed in the sea after aborting on takeoff All passengers and crew survived The airframe was damaged beyond economic repair and was sunk as a scuba diving site off Great Dog Island 18 On 18 July 2018 a private plane crashed after takeoff 19 The pilot who was the sole occupant in the plane died See also editTerrance B LettsomeReferences edit Airport information for Terrance B Lettsome International Airport at Great Circle Mapper Source DAFIF effective October 2006 BVI Outstation Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority Retrieved on 23 December 2012 Airport Development Project To Be A Game Changer GIS Retrieved 25 August 2016 Gov t picks model to continue operate airport BVI News 26 January 2016 Projected Cost Of Airport Expansion Not Coming Down Legislator Platinum News 13 February 2014 PEP amp VIP Oppose Airport Expansion Project The Island Sun 1 November 2014 UK agrees to affordable airport project in BVI BVI News 21 January 2016 UK raised concern about airport traffic other plans BVI News 9 August 2016 a b Chinese company selected for airport project BVI News 27 December 2016 Airport Project Killed BVI Platinum 13 June 2017 https www facebook com BVIGovernment videos the largest commercial flight to arrive in the bvi lands on beef island titan ai 2755490487827318 user generated source British Aerospace BAe 146 100 British Caribbean Airways Aviation Photo 1768255 Airliners net British Caribbean Airways Bruce Drum airlinersgallery s Photos airlinersgallery smugmug com Archived from the original on 15 September 2014 Will BVI Airways ever fly Date remain unknown on clear for take off Virgin Islands News Online 19 December 2016 The controversial bail out deal where a defunct airline that left owing the British Virgin Islands Airports Authority BVIAA close to US 100 000 is in the news again The National Democratic Party NDP Government pumped some 7M of tax payers monies into the defunct BVI Airways with a promise for direct flights between Miami Florida USA and the Terrence B Lettsome International Airport at Beef Island The public has been given three start dates for when the first flight was to commence at the end of October 2016 the other end of November 2016 and the final December 2016 To date none of the dates have come to pass and the public the media and the Opposition remain skeptical about the Government s investment on the taxpayers back We need money to fly BVI Airways lays off staff BVI News 18 July 2017 Retrieved 23 July 2017 https www aa com homePage do American Airlines flight schedules between Miami and Tortola amp American Airlines newsroom press release N57372 Accident description Aviation Safety Network Retrieved 19 September 2010 Accident description Aviation Safety Network Retrieved 7 February 2011 One Dead In Beef Island Plane Crash BVI Platinum 19 July 2018 External links edithttp www bviaa com Portal nbsp Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Terrance B Lettsome International Airport amp oldid 1185138468, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
