Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) believes the proposed expansion of Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport has been 'overstudied'. Photo: Internet Source

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has expressed frustration over the delay in the expansion of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, attributed to a request from the United Kingdom government for additional studies. Photo: VINO/File

At a recent news conference, the Premier emphasised that numerous studies have already been conducted in the past, stating that the airport has been "overstudied." Photo: VINO/ File

The United Kingdom’s anti-corruption champion, the Rt Honourable Baroness Margaret Hodge (right) with Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) (middle) and Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development Hon Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL) (left) in September 2025. Photo: GIS

At a press conference on Monday, April 20, 2026, the Premier emphasised that numerous studies have already been conducted in the past, stating that the airport has been "overstudied." 

'The airport has been overstudied'- Premier Wheatley 

He remarked, “It did come to my attention that they requested more information or requested more studies, hence my frustration that I've expressed at this news conference, because in my view, the airport has been overstudied.”

Premier Wheatley noted that the government has invested millions of dollars in studies for this project, but he believes they have made no significant progress. “We are no further ahead with all of these studies that we're doing. I think it's time to move on.” 

Call for UK G'ovt to give go-ahead

He made a strong appeal to the United Kingdom government and all parties involved to give the government the go-ahead for this critical project.

“I would like for the United Kingdom government, the minister, all concerned, to just give us the go-ahead so we can get this airport built because this airport is going to take our economy to the next level,” he added.

'I'm ready to move forward'

In 2025, Cabinet approved a major expansion of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, aiming to extend the runway to 7,000 feet by 2027 in order to accommodate larger, direct international flights from North America and Europe.

The Premier further stated, “I'm ready to move forward, and I think we've just overstudied the airport. We have. We probably had 10, 15 studies, something like that, at the airport. I mean, it's a ridiculous amount of studies, and it's [UK] still asking for more.”

VI was promised UK support

Interestingly, the United Kingdom’s anti-corruption champion, the Rt Honourable Baroness Margaret Hodge, DDE, visited the VI in September 2025 and even declared that the UK is willing to assist the territory in sourcing funding for the runway project at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport.

Baroness Hodge said it took her 17 hours to get to the VI, adding that one of the things that would have perhaps helped was an improved runway. 

“We’re talking about how we can perhaps support, you know, the government in trying to find funding for the runway. Just think about it, eight hours, eight, nine hours, direct flights, I think would support tourism beautifully.”