Above: construction work at VC Bird International Airport in Antigua

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The new airport terminal at Antigua’s VC Bird International Airport more than 70 percent finished, the government announced this week.

The project, which covers a total of 23,000 square metres of space, is on track for completion in September 2014.

The terminal will feature four jet bridges, four escalators, four elevators, 12 X-ray machines and CCTV monitoring.

“When I last toured the terminal I knew it was going to be a good facility but now that I have seen the progress this is absolutely amazing,” Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer said following a tour of the site. “This will take Antigua and Barbuda to the top level where airport terminals are concerned.”

A government estimate found that around $50 million worth of economic impact had been generated in the country due to the airport project, which is being begin constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.

The new terminal is designed to handle 1,800 passengers per hour, according to Tourism Minister John Maginley.

“The first and last impression you have of Antigua and Barbuda is the airport. So if we have an efficient entrance into Antigua and people leave the country comfortable we think this will all augur very well for our tourism product,” he said. “The airlines are very excited because we will be looking after their customers at a higher level than we are doing currently.”