Tech boost for air traffic control
New radar and airspace management technology planned for the Grantley Adams International Airport is expected to help air traffic controllers manage the growing volume of aircraft entering Barbados’ airspace, says Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill.
Responding to questions on airport expansion during the Appropriation Bill, 2026, Gooding-Edghill told the House of Assembly that the introduction of modern aviation equipment would improve safety and efficiency while helping controllers handle congestion caused by record airlift.
“One of the things that we often forget is not to explain what this equipment means,” he said, noting that a key component of the upgrade was a monopulse secondary surveillance radar (MSSR) system valued at about $7.2 million, along with other aviation technology funded through a $17 million programme supported by the CAF Development Bank.
“These pieces of equipment help facilitate the air traffic controllers to have a much more appreciative and controlled action within the airspace,” explained Grantley Adams International Airport CEO Hadley Bourne, who provided technical details on the system.
The update comes just days after operations at the Grantley Adams International Airport were disrupted on Saturday when a sickout by air traffic controllers forced a temporary shutdown of Barbados’ airspace.
The disruption halted inbound and outbound flights for about seven and a half hours, resulting in cancellations, diversions and delays affecting several international services.
Among those affected were flights operated by American Airlines, while a JetBlue service from New York returned to JFK and an Air Canada flight turned back to Canada before the airspace was reopened later that afternoon, following emergency talks between Government officials and union representatives.
Bourne said the radar system would allow controllers to track aircraft targets on screen and manage spacing between planes, particularly during busy periods.
“What must be taken into consideration is before they get on the ground, there’s actually congestion in the airspace,” he said, adding that the system provided controllers with clearer information to ensure aircraft moved “in a safe and orderly, notwithstanding the expeditious movement of aircraft” .
The equipment upgrade forms part of a wider expansion programme at the airport as Barbados’ airlift strategy continues to drive record visitor arrivals.
Gooding-Edghill said that the airport – built about 40 years ago – was not designed to accommodate the volume of passengers and aircraft now using the facility.
“We have, frankly, outpaced in terms of volume what is required at the Grantley Adams International Airport,” he said.
The airport recently recorded 2.4 million passengers moving through the facility, the highest throughput in its history.
“That again is another record for the Grantley Adams International Airport and for Barbados as a tourism island,” the minister added.
The surge in traffic has placed pressure on infrastructure, particularly on weekends.
“On occasion we will have maybe two aircraft lining up behind each other,” Gooding-Edgehill said, noting that apron space was increasingly constrained as commercial aircraft, cargo flights, private jets and regional carriers competed for limited parking positions.
To address the situation, Government plans to undertake a $120 million first phase expansion of the airport to increase capacity and improve supporting services.
But infrastructure upgrades are only part of the response.
Officials say significant investments are also being made in equipment to improve aircraft handling and passenger services.
Chief executive officer of Caribbean Aircraft Handling, Lemuel Padmore, told lawmakers that peak arrival periods between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. could see about 15 aircraft arriving, moving nearly 3 000 passengers and roughly 4 500 bags in either direction during that window.
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