Outgoing Governor of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Albert A. Bryan Jr. has said 20 to 30% of air arrivals in St. Thomas are destined for the Virgin Islands (VI), admitting that they have been against Tortola having an airport. Photo: Internet Source

Outgoing USVI Governor Albert A. Bryan Jr., during a Government House press briefing on Monday, November 9, 2026. Photo: Government House USVI

Preclearance is being discusssed between the United States Virgin Islands and the Virgin Islands. Photo: Internet Source

Governor Bryan also revealed that freer borders are being discussed with the VI as they try to find a solution to the charter yacht fee dispute between the two territories. 

“They’d like to see softer borders, which we would like too, and that includes having preclearance in Tortola,” he disclosed during a Government House press briefing on Monday, November 9, 2026.

Preclearance is ‘something we could work on’

Preclearance in Tortola, Governor Byran said, is something that can be worked on collectively with travellers getting preclearance in Tortola for arrival at Red Hook and vice versa. 

The Governor, however, tied this matter to the charter fees issue, saying, “Of course we want fair reciprocation in terms of what we pay versus what their people pay.”

He said the USVI wants an “amicable” resolution to the ongoing issues with the VI and would “love to see” preclearance for the Virgin Islands.

“Facilitating them and getting them on their way to getting preclearance is something that I think we should work on; at the end of the day, they’re still going to need a visa.”

Better for USVI if people go directly to Tortola- Bryan

Governor Byran also said for a long time the USVI has been “against” Tortola having an airport. He said air arrivals on St Thomas and at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport continue to increase. 

“I don’t like to brag much, but Tortola now has three flights a day and our air arrivals in St Thomas continue to rise. So they have more flights coming in, and we have more people coming in.”

He added that while visitor arrivals increase for both destinations, 20 to 30% of arrivals on St Thomas are actually destined for Tortola. 

“So it would be better for us if those people go directly to Tortola, and those twenty or thirty per cent of seats on our planes will be filled with people who are going to spend money in the US Virgin Islands.”

VI gov’t expanding TB Lettsome Int’l runway

The government of the Virgin Islands is advancing plans to extend the runway at Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island. 

Recently, Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye Rymer (R5) revealed that two tenders were received for the first phase, which is the West Runway Extension Project. During this phase, 787 feet will be added to the Western end of the existing runway.

The wider project will ultimately give the airport a runway of approximately 7000 feet.