Having put the challenges of Covid behind it, Argyle International Airport in St Vincent and the Grenadines is enjoying a resurgence in passenger arrivals and airline traffic. The airport’s strong performance has been helped along by a buoyant domestic tourism industry, and the appointment of new CEO Dale Davis, in September 2022. Richard Hagan spoke with Mr Davis, to find out all about the latest happenings at this dynamic airport and discovered how it continues to punch above its weight.
Argyle International Airport’s manage ment team is buoyant, and deservedly so. With the worst of Covid now in the past, the Airport has worked hard to ensure that the airlinesand their passengers - return to the island.
The team’s efforts have borne fruit, as CEO Dale Davis highlighted: “2022 was a positive and exciting year for AIA. The recovery in passenger arrivals was gradual at first but by the end of the year, passenger traffic had recovered to 60% of pre-Covid levels.
“Our positivity was bolstered by American Airlines announcing in August 2022 that it would introduce daily flights between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Argyle International Airport (SVD). Furthermore, we expect and look forward to Caribbean Airlines picking up routes that were previously served by LIAT (Leeward Islands Air Transport).”
Promises kept
In keeping with pre-pandemic commitments to increase flights to SVD, Air Canada has implemented twice-weekly
flights from Toronto Pearson International, while Virgin Atlantic also has twiceweekly flights from Heathrow. In addition to its daily regional flights, Caribbean Airlines has a once-weekly flight out of New York’s JFK airport, but beginning in March 2023, this will increase to three days a week.
Not to be outdone, local airlines continue to play an important role in AIA’s operations. “Regional carriers, including InterCaribbean and our very own, resilient local airlines, SVG Air, Mustique Airways and Air Adelphi are extremely important partners in our success,” said Mr Davis. “Our long-time regional carrier LIAT is also back in our regional skies.”
The increasing traffic at AIA is enjoying the full support of the local hospitality industry as well. Various hospitality and related infrastructure projects were back on track and expected to be completed between 2023 and 2025. These include the construction of hotels and guest houses belonging to both recognisable international operators and local
businesses, much of which had been delayed due to challenges relating to Covid.
Mr Davis shared, “We’ve seen at least one high-end boutique hotel open up already, along with a number of guest houses, all to support the increasing tourism demand and which helpfully add room accommodation stock on the island. We are committed and focussed on ensuring these initiatives are all strongly supported by the facilities and teams at Argyle International Airport.”
Acres of sun power
I n recognition of the role that it plays in St Vincent and the Grenadines’ efforts to support, protect and promote the environment, Argyle International Airport continues to pour considerable investment
into its impressive solar PV farm. First commissioned in June 2018, the farm has undergone several upgrades in the years since, including a substantial expansion that was completed in January 2023. The expansion project has taken the farm from 598KW to a total capacity of 1.2MW, exactly double the facility’s originally installed capacity.
Having received funding from various agencies, including CARICOM Development Fund (CDF), the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Caribbean Development Bank, the project was executed by local utility company VINLEC.
“The government and people of St Vincent and the Grenadines are mindful that, even though small, we
have a sub stantial role to play in the environment,” explained Mr Davis. “Every effort we make towards sustainability impera tives pays dividends to the global environmental preservation account.
“Accordingly, when the recently added 598KW is commissioned into service, our newly upgraded 1.2MW capacity solar farm will supply 46% of AIA’s annual energy needs, mainly powering the terminal building. The system will save a total of 1,861,250 pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, which is indicative of AIA’s environmental social responsibility. Our long-term goal for the farm is to expand its capacity to 2MW, which will allow us to meet close to 100% of Argyle International Airport’s energy needs.”
AIA’s sustainability programme is not limited to its energy needs. The airport is also considering the introduction of electric vehicles for operational and maintenance activities on the airside.
“We have identified a number of opportunities for electric-powered vehicles which we believe would be a good fit for our sustainability considerations,” Mr Davis said. “Given the current and anticipated future success of our solar PV farm, we’re looking at every option available to us to reduce our fossil fuel consumption and emissions. This includes planning for the use of future fuels.”
A volcanic disruption
In early 2021, amidst the travel industry devastation inflicted by Covid-19, Argyle International Airport confronted a serious new existential threat when La Soufrière volcano erupted on 9th April. This single incident caused all operations at AIA to come to an immediate and, at the time,
indefinite halt. The airport was completely covered with volcanic ash.
A coordinated cleaning effort immediately kicked into gear. “The clean-up was spearheaded by our Building and Civil Engineering Department,” continued Mr Davis, “supported by the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering department, our Ground Handling team, our Security and Operations teams, and our Administration team. We also received support from the state-owned agency BRAGSA, as well as from the private sector.”
These combined efforts yielded stunning results, according to Mr Davis: “A total of 2,195 cubic feet of ash was removed from the airside and another 175 cubic feet from the landside.
It was an incredible display of teamwork, commitment and sheer hard work. As a result, we were able to return the facility to regular, safe operations within two weeks of the volcano’s eruption.”
Flying into the future
On the eve of its sixth anniversary, AIA has a robust programme of upgrades that it expects to roll out as it continues to improve the airport’s operations. These include an expansion to its cargo terminal, the procure ment of passenger security screening
equipment - including walkthrough metal detectors and X-Ray scanners, an upgrade and expansion of its CCTV system, and additional airport certification.
Despite the substantial sequential challenges of Covid and then a volcanic eruption, the AIA team and its partners, as well as the proud, hard-working people of St Vincent and the Grenadines, continue to prove that they are ready for an expected robust increase in Caribbean travel. Argyle International Airport looks forward to greeting every new arrival. n
