The accreditation which is for one year, prioritises health and safety in a measurable, established manner.

According to a press release from Government Information Service (GIS) on February 11, 2022, the ACI/AHA programme assesses how aligned airports’ health measures are with ACI Airport Operations and COVID-19: Business Recovery Guidelines; and ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force Recommendations.

Safe destination for travel

It said the achievement of ACI/AHA accreditation, along with industry best practices, therefore, reflects that the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport has achieved the international benchmarks for safe operations in the COVID-19 era, which in turn contributes to favourably positioning the Virgin Islands as a safe destination for travel whilst supporting the Virgin Islands’ tourism industry and, by extension, its economy.

The ACI/AHA programme which was introduced in July 2020 assists airports by assessing new health measures and procedures, that were put in place consequent to the COVID-19 pandemic, against global standards. It enables airports to demonstrate to passengers, staff, regulators, and governments alike that they are prioritizing health and safety matters in a measurable, established way, while also validating their own measures and processes.

TBLIA airport first OT to achieve accreditation

Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, in December 2020, became the second airport in the region and the first of the British Overseas Territories to achieve ACI/AHA accreditation.

According to the press release, the BVIAA continues to work towards ensuring the highest quality of service, in a safe environment, for all its airport users who rely on its services, and the use of its facilities.