Cabinet endorses airport runway extension length of 7,000 ft- Hon Rymer
In a statement on October 30, 2025, Hon Rymer said the Virgin Islands (VI) will seek to extend the airport runway at Terrance B. Lettsome Airport on Beef Islands by 7000 feet.
“Following a thorough review of the options presented, Cabinet endorsed a runway extension length of 7,000 feet as the most viable and beneficial option to meet our Territory’s aviation and economic needs.
“This decision represents a major step forward in advancing our vision for a modern, competitive, and globally connected Virgin Islands.”
In 2024, the BVI Airports Authority signed an agreement with KPMG, which emerged as the successful bidder through a competitive RFP process to develop a Full Business Case (FBC) in accordance with the UK Treasury’s Green Book guidelines.
To support this process, a Steering Committee was established, comprising professionals from key local sectors including finance, aviation, the environment, tourism, and planning. The committee worked closely with KPMG, providing local insight and expertise to ensure that the business case accurately reflects the realities, opportunities, and priorities of the Virgin Islands.
Benefits of airport runway extension
According to Hon Rymer, a 7,000-foot runway will significantly enhance the Territory’s ability to accommodate larger and longer-range aircraft, allowing for direct international flights from key global hubs in North America, Latin America, and Europe.
“This improvement will reduce travel times, increase visitor convenience, and open new tourism and business markets—positioning the Virgin Islands as a more accessible and attractive destination for travelers and investors alike.”
Economically, the benefits of a longer runway are far-reaching, Hon Rymer said, adding that it will stimulate growth in the hospitality and tourism sectors by enabling direct international flights and increasing visitor arrivals; Encourage greater investment in the tourism sector, particularly in hotel, resort, and marina development, by providing the airlift capacity needed to support sustained growth; Expand trade and investment opportunities, facilitating the efficient movement of goods, cargo, and business travel; Support the development of ancillary industries, such as logistics, maintenance, and local service enterprises; Create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for Virgin Islanders during both the construction and operational phases; and Strengthen the Territory’s global competitiveness and resilience, ensuring sustainable economic growth for decades to come.
Additionally, according to Hon Rymer, a longer runway will improve aviation safety, fuel efficiency, and operational reliability, ensuring that the VI remains a safe, dependable, and attractive destination for airlines and travelers alike.
Implementation
With the approval of the Outline Business Case, the focus now shifts to implementation.
Hon Rymer said the Steering Committee is developing the framework and timeline for engaging a commercial entity to execute the project.
“These next steps include the issuance of an Expression of Interest (EOI) to identify and shortlist qualified partners for Cabinet’s consideration and approval. This transparent and structured process will ensure that only reputable, experienced firms with the proven capacity to deliver a project of this scale will move forward. The feedback from potential investors will also help refine the Request for Proposals (RFP), which is expected to be issued in the first quarter of 2026.”
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12 Responses to “Cabinet endorses airport runway extension length of 7,000 ft- Hon Rymer”
The government must now provide unequivocal clarity on the environmental roadmap and demonstrate how a partnership with a foreign operator will be structured to serve the BVI first and foremost. As we move into the EOI and RFP phases in 2026, transparency, robust local oversight, and a negotiation strategy that prioritizes national sovereignty will be paramount. This project is too important to get wrong. Let us build it, but let us build it wisely, ensuring it truly becomes the "globally connected" future the BVI owns and controls. We can't keep coming back to this govt after govt, and how will the cost impact the Virgin Islands. It promises to:
Break Isolation: Direct flights from North America and Europe will slash travel times, making the BVI a more convenient and attractive destination for high-spending tourists.
Fuel Economic Growth: The ability to support sustained airlift will incentivize investment in new hotels, resorts, and marinas, creating a ripple effect across the entire economy.
Create Jobs: From construction to hospitality, the project will generate significant employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for Virgin Islanders.
Enhance Safety and Efficiency: A modern, longer runway improves operational reliability and safety for all airlines and passengers.
However, this case study will see the BVI ceding significant operational control to an external, for-profit corporation. The primary motive of a foreign operator is shareholder return, which may not always align perfectly with the social, environmental, and long-term economic interests of the Virgin Islands people. Good Luck!
Imagine the airport project that we dont even need on top of that
It is a lie.
This is corruption.
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Sooner or later the Terence B. Airport will be extended, but the best is the proper time, not before, not after.
We do not have the fund. We cannot at this time afford to borrow a large amount ($Ms). It's only political tactics being played, not realistic nor genuine expectation. No.