Maurice Bishop International Airport, formerly known as Point Salines Airport, is an international airport located in St. George’s, Grenada. The town of St. George’s is approximately 8 kilometres north of the airport and is the capital of the island nation of Grenada. The airport is located at Point Salines, the south-westernmost point of the island. It was named after former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, who supported the construction project in 1979.
The airport is 12 metres above mean sea level. It has a runway with an asphalt surface measuring 2,733 m × 45 m. The airport is home to the Grenada Station of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority. Maurice Bishop Airport offers a convenient and comfortable travelling experience for private jet owners and VIP passengers.
Grenada private jet charter prices
Although Maurice Bishop 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 → Saint George’s are as follows.
| Heavy Jet | 112.650 EUR |
| Long Range Jet | 141.300 EUR |
| VIP Airliner | 182.750 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.
American occupation of Maurice Bishop Airport
The construction of the airport, designed to replace the obsolete Pearls Airport on the north side of the island, was cited by US President Ronald Reagan as evidence that the Grenada government intended to allow it to be used as a transit point for Soviet military aircraft en route to Cuba. Reagan supported this claim with evidence that the airfield was partly built by Cuban labourers.
Bishop and his government claimed that the Point Salines airport was intended to make the island more accessible to European and North American tourists. The long-range jets carrying these tourists were unable to land on the short and geographically difficult runway at the existing Pearls airport. As a result, tourists travelling to Grenada had to endure delays, expenses and the perceived risks of switching to smaller aircraft flown by regional carriers. The Grenada government said it hoped that the tourist trade would increase significantly if direct flights from Europe and North America were possible. The airport was designed by a Canadian firm and private construction contracts were awarded to European contractors. Two private American construction firms also participated in the project.
The unfinished airport was chosen as the jumping-off point for the US invasion of Grenada in October 1983. The event that precipitated the US-led invasion was not the construction of the airport, but a violent coup in which Prime Minister Maurice Bishop was killed. The American justification for the invasion was the perceived threat to American medical students at St George’s University, whose campus was a short distance from the airport.
At dawn on 25 October 1983, more than 500 Rangers from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 75th Ranger Regiment, United States Army, launched a risky, low-altitude parachute attack on the unfinished airfield. Despite resistance from the Grenada armed forces (PRA – People’s Revolutionary Army) and armed Cuban construction workers, the Rangers quickly secured all their objectives at the airfield. The capture of the airfield allowed C-141 transport planes of the United States Air Force to land from 14:05 and land six battalions of paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, the next invasion force.
After the occupation, Point Salines International Airport was completed with $19 million in American aid and the first commercial passenger aircraft landed on 28 October 1984. The airport was renamed in 2009 for the late Prime Minister.
Attractions in St George
Grenada is a small island country in the Caribbean. However, the island country is a very attractive destination for tourists with its historical texture, natural beauties and tropical climate. St. George, the capital of Grenada, is the largest city of the island country and is home to many attractions for tourists.
One of the most famous tourist attractions of St. George is Grand Anse Beach. It is a magnificent beach with turquoise coloured sea and fine sand. Thanks to its warm tropical climate, activities such as swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing can be done here all year round. There are many hotels, restaurants and bars near the beach. While enjoying Grand Anse Beach, visitors to St George can also sample Grenada’s local cuisine and cocktails.
St George is one of Grenada’s most historically and culturally rich cities. Fort George, located in the city, can be visited by visitors as a fortress and museum from the British colonial period. In addition, the National Museum of Grenada in St George is an ideal place to learn about the history and culture of the island country. There are also many historic churches in the city, such as St George’s Anglican Church, St Andrew Roman Catholic Church and St John’s Presbyterian Church. St George is a city worth visiting for tourists with its historical and cultural heritage.
Maurice Bishop airport information
It is quite easy to reach the city centre from the airport and there are different options for passengers arriving in the country. Since the airport is close to the centre, there is no public transport from the airport to the centre.
It is quite common to reach the city centre from the airport by taxi. The airport works with many companies providing taxi service. Tourists can reach the city centre in a short time by taking a taxi from the airport. Another transport option can be car hire. There are many car hire companies at the airport. Driving in Grenada can be difficult for some tourists as it has British-style traffic flow.
