BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Air travelers departing Antigua will pay $75 when a combined airport administrative charge and increased departure tax takes effect Nov. 1.
The $23 airport charge will remain the same, but the the departure tax will increase from $28 to $51, bringing the new total to $75, according to Colin James, CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.
The $75 fee will be rolled into the price of the airline ticket, good news for travelers who have endured long lines at the cashier’s booth to pay the tax before clearing security and proceeding to the gate.
James said that the airport portion of the $75 would be funneled into the upkeep and maintenance of the new airport now under construction next to the existing V.C. Bird Airport.
“That airport is 30 years old and has long outgrown its ability to handle [large] numbers of passengers. The terminal is outdated, space is cramped and it is not what we want our visitors to see upon arrival or remember upon departure,” James said.
The new facility, slated for completion in early 2014, will feature jet bridges, first-class lounges, duty-free shops, food outlets, larger baggage consoles and more ticket counters.
Follow Gay Myers on Twitter @gnmtravelweekly.