Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

New BVIAA boss laying foundation to improve local airports

New BVIAA boss laying foundation to improve local airports

Exactly one month after being appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA), Kurt Menal said it has been an educational period for him, but he sees the potential in his staff, the airport, and in the territory and is dispensing significant energy in laying the foundation to pivot the airports in a new era.

In an exclusive interview with BVI News, Menal said his experience in managing small to medium airports have uniquely positioned him to adapt to the BVI given its airports’ system and the uniqueness of territory as a destination.

“My regional perspective has proven to me that it takes different and adaptable strategies to manage airports in the Caribbean as compared to the intricacies of running a larger facility like Heathrow [London] as an example. The dynamics, economics and culture are different,” Menal told our news centre.

Local airports will be run like profit centres


The new MD mentioned he is driven to prove the airports are more than just cost centres where aircraft land and take off.

“The modern approach is for them to be run as profit centres and strategic commercial businesses. This approach aligned with master plans that include the infrastructural and systemic development of the airport which will position destination BVI to realize the economic benefit of the trickle-down or catalytic impact of focused airport management,” he added.

Diagnosis of BVIAA


Menal also said he has spent significant time along with capable staff to undertake a comprehensive diagnosis of the BVIAA as an entity in all aspects. He refuses to jump to conclusions as his approach is based on verifiable data with a view to aligning all future plans with the vision of sustainable development.

“The results of our assessment will be aligned to international benchmarks as all functional and administrative areas will be reviewed to determine priorities moving forward. The intention ultimately is to run the BVIAA as a business moving towards profitability. The inherent capacity of the airport estates must be optimised to promote revenue generation and overall commercial development,” the MD continued.

He maintained the connectivity of airports is key in BVI’s development as a tourism and business destination. However, what he described as catalytic effects is often low among stakeholders.

He intends to change and introduce airport development and management as a key component in the conversation surrounding national development.

A modern view


Back in January, Premier Andrew Fahie mentioned Menal would assist with the training of the staff at the BVIAA and the MD said he is taking a modern view on human resource management.

He will focus on talent development, employee engagement and overall organisation-wide performance management.

“The long-term development of the organisation is being viewed in a framework of capacity building in the national context from the standpoint of the introduction of exposure to careers in aviation from the primary and tertiary level.

Competency matrix for BVIAA


The intention is to develop partnerships with institutions to attract qualified talent that can be developed in the field of airport and aviation management,” Menal told our news centre.

“In the coming weeks, a comprehensive talent assessment of the organisation will be undertaken with a view to developing a competency matrix for the BVIAA. This will inform our assessment and management of the capabilities or competencies that currently exist and the gaps that need to be filled,” he continued.

Menal said the BVIAA has talented resources and with the right guidance, the future of the airports will be guaranteed.

The BVIAA’s future now lies in the hand of a man passionate about the aviation industry along with a cadre of experience operating airports.

Menal said his intention is to balance the imperatives of safety, efficiency, commercial viability and financial prudence.

He said he is tapped into the Airports Council International (ACI) network and will use this to align with international best practices and adapt these to the local and regional context to advance the unique tourism product that is the BVI.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
×