Above: Lynden Pindling International Airport

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Bahamas has officially opened its new domestic and international departures terminal.

The project, which cost $409 million, according to the government, took four years to complete.

The new 606,000-square-foot airport has increased its capacity by 50 percent, or about 5 million additional passengers every year, according to a news release.

The facility has 24 retail locations and 16 restaurants, bars and lounges.

An expanded operating surface means the airport can also receive jets as large as the Airbus A380.

“The Bahamas has consistently welcomed a record number of visitors in recent years but we do not rest on our laurels and will continue to be aggressive in attracting visitors to our islands,” Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe said in a statement. “Tourism generates 75 percent of the GDP, and the new LPIA is a very tangible symbol of our vision for Nassau and our commitment to delivering an exceptional visitor experience, from the time of arrival to departure.”

The airport’s US departures terminal actually completed construction in 2011.