Grantley Adams International Airport is an international airport located in Seawell, Barbados and serves as the country’s only port of entry by air. The airport is the only port available for private jet flights to the country. Formerly Seawell Airport, it was renamed Grantley Adams Airport in 1976, following the death of Sir Grantley Herbert Adams, the first Prime Minister of Barbados. The airport is located in the Atlantic time zone (UTC-4:00) and in World Area Code zone 246 (by the US Department of Transportation). The port is also home to charter carrier West Indies Executive Air.
Grantley Adams International Airport has two terminal buildings designed to appear as one continuous structure. The airport is 52 meters above mean sea level and has a single paved runway of 3358 meters in length.
Barbados private jet charter prices
Although Grantley Adams Airport air charter fees depend on variables such as the number of passengers, departure airport, flight time, aircraft position, flight date, the prices for private jet charter from Istanbul → Seawell are as follows.
Heavy Jet | 143.450 EUR |
Long Range Jet | 174.000 EUR |
VIP Airliner | 318.150 EUR |
These prices are average amounts and you can contact us on our flight reservation screen or by phone for the most accurate price information.
Grantley Adams Airport history
The first recorded flight to Barbados took place in 1929 at the present Rockley Golf Course. The history of air transportation at the site of the present facility, then known as Seawell Airport, dates back to September 1938, when a mail plane of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines landed at the site from Trinidad. At that time, there was only a grass strip as a runway. The strip was soon asphalted and in 1949 the first terminal was built on the site of an existing shed.
In the 1960s, the eastern flying field just south-east of the airport became known as Paragon. This area became the first base for the High Altitude Research Project, known as Project HARP. The HARP Project was jointly sponsored by McGill University in Canada and the United States military. In mid-October 1983, the civilian international airport was the scene of intense military activity. Then Prime Minister Tom Adams proposed that the facility be used by the US military as a forward deployment and support area for American aircraft. The airport also became a media hub for more than 300 international journalists sent by their own organizations to cover the surprise multinational intervention on the neighboring island of Grenada.
In 1983, the US-backed invasion of Grenada led to another US agreement with Barbados. As part of the agreement, the US expanded part of the existing airport infrastructure. This made Grantley Adams Airport ready for use as a base. As part of its plan to ensure lasting stability in Grenada, the US helped establish the Regional Security System (RSS) in the eastern flight path of Grantley Adams.
As Grantley Adams International Airport has become a relatively busy airport for such a small island, and with an expected increase in future air traffic, the Government of Barbados has embarked on a US$100 million program to upgrade the airport’s infrastructure.
Phase I, which is now complete, saw the upgrade of runways, taxiways, parking aprons and approach lighting. This phase involved the Government of Barbados acquiring private land adjacent to the runway to bring the airport into compliance with new international aviation regulations. Phase II (completed at the same time) included the addition of a new arrivals terminal adjacent to the existing building; the relocation of arrivals from the old terminal, the refurbishment of the old terminal as a departures facility and the migration of infrastructure into the new millennium.
On June 1, 2007, the Bds$1.7 million Club Caribbean Executive Lounge and Business Center opened as an additional amenity for business travelers. The center has an area of 460 m² and is located on the mezzanine level. The center is intended to be used by private clients of the various airlines in the terminal.
Phase III expansion had to wait until the completion of the 2007 Cricket World Cup. The new airport terminal envisages Jetway (gates), new spacious departure lounges much closer to the planes and the addition of air bridges to make connections much easier. An expanded duty-free shopping area and restaurants for passengers are also nearing completion. In 2010, airport officials said that traffic to the airport had increased by 58% and that a 20-25 year plan for the facility had been drawn up, including an addition to the taxiway and renovation of cargo facilities to international standards.
Following the expansion project, the airport’s arrivals section moved to a new 70,000 square meter building adjacent to the previous structure. This allowed the departures area to occupy a large part of the previous shared structure. The new arrivals terminal was built with five large baggage carousels as well as customs and immigration windows.
Attractions in Barbados
Barbados is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Central America with its culture, cuisine, festivals, natural beauties and beaches.
Among the places to visit in the country are the Animal Flower Cave, a naturally formed ocean cave, Harrison Cave, one of the largest caves in the world, Queen’s Park, which used to be used as a barracks, Savannah Garrison, where horse races have been held for over a century, and Brownes Beach, one of the most popular beaches in the Southern Caribbean, Atlanta Submarine, where underwater tours are offered, Hunte’s Gardens, home to more than 80 bird species and dozens of plant species, Gay Mountain Visitor Center, where the region’s best rum is produced, Barbados Museum and Historical Society, where the history of the region is told and different artifacts are exhibited, and Gun Hill Signal Station, built in 1697 for use by military troops.
Transportation from Grantley Adams Airport to the city center
There are no alternatives other than car rental, taxi and buses for transportation from the airport to the city center. Passengers generally prefer taxis and there are plenty of them outside the terminal. When using the taxis outside the port, it is strongly recommended to choose one of the licensed taxis. Licensed vehicles can be distinguished by the labels on the front.
There is a bus departing every 30 minutes from the bus stops located outside the airport. There are also offices of different private car rental companies in the port.