BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) marked its “peak day” for the winter 2025/2026 season with 7,900 passengers on commercial flights and seven flights with 2,000 air-to-sea passengers arriving on the island on Saturday.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at GAIA, Hadley Bourne, disclosed during Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s Visitor Appreciation Day at the Airport as part of the activities to celebrate Tourism Week, December 14-21.
“Similarly to November, when we had the biggest year for air to sea, today was the biggest day for commercial flights with 22 what we would call wide-body commercial aircraft, and approximately six cargo and as many as 13 regional flights that would have seen transitioning through the airport and its facilities,” he said.
“Today, being the Saturday before Christmas, which is normally our bumper day, so far, we’ve seen quite steady progress, and the season has gone tremendously. A lot of the equipment we would have brought on board preseason is definitely helping stakeholders, particularly ground handlers and airlines, improve efficiency. So I’m happy so far with where we are at this point.”
BTMI’s Chief Product Development Manager, Marsha Alleyne, highlighted the activities that took place as part of Visitor Appreciation Day, which saw visitors arriving from all the island’s key source markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Caribbean.
The ‘activation’ included ladies dressed in national colours, handing out treats and branded items, welcome cocktails made by mixologist Shane McClean, and, in the departure lounge, passengers were entertained at the piano by Rhea Drakes, in addition to a roving photographer offering a final keepsake photo.
“We thought, being the busiest day, and also the very start of the tourism season, and the fact that we’re still celebrating, of course, tourism week of activities, we thought we would bring some Christmas cheer to our passengers, both land side and also on the departure side as well.
“We are just really excited to be able to spread some cheer and to invite passengers to come back to Barbados again and again and again. And of course, you know that as soon as people land and come into the arrivals hall, it’s really and truly the first time that they get to see Barbados. And so we’re representing the island. We want them to have an extremely engaging, fantastic experience. And we know that the first opportunity to say hello, welcome to Barbados, is significant, and we really want to do that today,” Alleyne stated.
Also, as part of the day’s activities, Barbados and West Indies’ legendary fast bowler, The Most Honourable Joel ‘Big Bird’ Garner, signed cricket balls and miniature cricket bats in the Airport’s departure lounge.
Speaking to his part in the day’s activities, he said: “It’s a pleasure to be involved with the BTMI and to welcome people to Barbados. I think we’ve had a perfect long-standing relationship. We’ve been working with the BTMI to promote Barbados and encourage people to visit. And I think that the more we sell it and the more we do, is better for the country, because we are tourism players.”
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