Skerrit confirmed that American Airlines and other carriers based in the northern country have proposed to local authorities that the gangway be lengthened in order to achieve greater comfort when landing on wet runways.
The official, quoted by the Portal Associates Times, assured that the decision is not easy given the important investments in building an international airport.
He said he spent some time contemplating whether to spend the money, knowing they would build the international airport.
Maintaining existing flights is a priority as the expansion of the Douglas Charles runway will allow for greater landing safety during periods of heavy rain and provide the opportunity for larger aircraft to land, he said. For her part, Tourism Secretary Denise Charles had previously announced to national media that the success of such a move could give impetus to other airlines to expand direct flights to the country.
Currently, the Caribbean is one of the fastest recovering regions of the world post-Covid-19, with travel numbers similar to the pre-pandemic era.
npg/chm