Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has announced that the contract award for the extension of the airport runway on Beef Island is to be done in December 2026, and the project will commence in 2027. Photo: VINO

While delivering the 2027 National Budget at Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) in Paraquita Bay, on October 27, 2026, Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) reminded that his government is taking the 'bold decision' to expand the airport runway in a phased approach. Photo: GIS

The Notice to Tenderers for a runway extension of 787 feet was issued through the British Virgin Islands Airports Authority (VIAA) on May 27, 2026. Photo: BVIAA

While delivering the 2027 National Budget at Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) in Paraquita Bay, on October 27, 2026, Premier Wheatley reminded that his government is taking the “bold decision” to expand the airport runway in a phased approach. 

“This long-overdue project will commence in 2027 following the contract award in December 2026. This includes the 787-foot extension, which will facilitate greater passenger capacity on flights, safer operations and more connection options.”

Notice to Tenders went out in May 2026

It was during a Public Engagement Session on the Constitutional Negotiations at the Catholic Community Centre on Virgin Gorda on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, that Premier Wheatley had first disclosed that his government had gone ahead with issuing a Notice to Tenderers to add 787 feet to the existing runway at Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport.

“The Minister of Communications and Works, who is responsible for the airports, is very soon going to be requesting a Request for Proposal (RFP) to do a phase of the project that will allow American Airlines to take off safely by adding, I think, about 700 more feet to the west, and that is going to be coming out soon,” Premier Wheatley had said.

The Notice to Tenderers for a runway extension of 787 feet was then issued through the British Virgin Islands Airports Authority (VIAA) on May 27, 2026.

In his Budget Address, Premier Wheatley said the VI’s record tourism performance has partly been driven by the popular direct Miami-Beef Island American Airlines flight, which numbers as many as seven daily flights in the winter.