Premier Andrew Fahie said these improvements came at the recommendation of Brakkam Aviation Management, a global transportation-management consulting firm that the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) hired to assist with ‘decision-making and planning’.

“At an estimated cost of $290,300, the major components of these interim improvements are to the restrooms and ticketing areas, roof repairs to the passenger terminal, and the expansion and renovation of the international arrivals area,” he said in the House of Assembly on Friday, June 19.

Work is expected to be completed by November 30, this year. The Premier said “a pool of construction firms” are being utilised for the project.

“The tender documents … [are] currently being developed,” the leader of government business added.

Expansion of airport’s security checkpoint

In the meantime, Brakkam also recommended the expansion of the airport’s security checkpoint area. This will be done by reducing the size of the existing unoccupied restaurant space at the airport.

The Premier said the said space will be closed off from the terminal lobby and will be reconfigured to serve food and beverage on the passenger hold-room side only.

This move will make the restaurant more financially viable.

“Prior to Brakkam’s engagement, a restaurant operator was selected through a tender process, and Brakkam is working with Airport Administration to structure that concession agreement.
The plan is to have the space reconfigured and restaurant recommissioned by November 16, 2020,” Fahie said.

He continued: “Separately, Brakkam has worked in collaboration with Airport Administration to develop rates and charges for the opening of a new Airport VIP Lounge, and has developed and issued a Request For Proposal (RFP) [document] to solicit and engage a hospitality-sector entity with either airline-lounge, hotel, restaurant, or school-of-hospitality operational experience, to operate and manage the lounge on behalf of the BVIAA.

The deadline to submit the RFP is July 10.