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

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) at the Public Engagement Session on the Constitutional Negotiations at the Catholic Community Centre on Virgin Gorda last evening, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Photo: Facebook

Even as the United Kingdom (UK) continues to place more red tape on the Airport Expansion Project in the Virgin Islands (VI), the Government led by Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has gone ahead with issuing a Notice to Tenderers to add nearly 800 feet to the existing runway at Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport. Photo: VINO/File

The Notice to Tenderers issued by the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) inviting suitably qualified firms and joint ventures to submit proposals for the design, execution, completion, testing, commissioning and defects rectification of the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport West Runway Extension (787ft/240m) Project. Photo: BVIAA

This information was first disclosed by Premier Wheatley at the Public Engagement Session on the Constitutional Negotiations at the Catholic Community Centre on Virgin Gorda last evening, Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

“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.”

787ft extension to western end of runway

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

According to the Notice to Tenderers, BVIAA is inviting suitably qualified firms and joint ventures to submit proposals for the design, execution, completion, testing, commissioning and defects rectification of the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport West Runway Extension (787ft/240m) Project.

The tender deadline is 12:00 noon on August 31, 2026.

Premier Wheatley did not disclose how that phase of the airport project would be funded.

In a statement on October 30, 2025, Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) said the Virgin Islands would seek to extend the airport runway at Terrance B. Lettsome Airport on Beef Islands by 7000 feet and that Cabinet had accepted and approved the recommendation of the Outline Business Case for the airport expansion project as of October 1, 2025.

UK seems concerned about contingent liability- Premier Wheatley

Speaking last night on Virgin Gorda, Premier Wheatley said that because the airport expansion is going to cost over $400m, it requires approval from the United Kingdom.

“And they are perhaps not as sensitive to our timelines as we would be…so we have been trying to get an extension done to our airport now for 16 years, and we have spent millions and millions of dollars on studies, so we had to do a Business Case and produce the Business Case [to the United Kingdom], but we have been asked for more information.

The Premier said KPMG, which did the Business Case, is a reputable company, “but additional studies have been requested, and more information has been requested [by the UK].

Dr Wheatley said the UK has expressed its support for having an extension to the airport runway done; however, it appears concerned about contingent liability.