VC Bird International Airport
VC Bird International Airport, named after Antigua and Barbuda’s first prime minister, is the only air gateway to these two Caribbean islands. Passengers can fly directly to Barbuda from this airport on northeast Antigua’s coast. Despite the relatively small size of the airport’s only terminal, it nonetheless offers several non-stop flights throughout North America and the Caribbean.
US destinations served include: Miami, New York-JFK, Newark, and Atlanta. Virgin Atlantic Airways and British Airways both provide direct year-long flights to London-Gatwick, while Air Canada offers year-round, non-stop flights to Toronto and seasonal flights to Montréal, Canada. Seasonal flights are also available to Frankfurt, Germany, and Milan, Italy.
A bar, a restaurant, a travel accessory shop, a duty-free store, and a ground floor information desk are the airport’s main amenities. The ATM is available 24 hours, while a currency exchange outlet is among the banking facilities.
VC Bird International Airport’s only public transportation options are hotel shuttle buses which must be reserved in advance, fixed fare taxis, and chartered helicopters to other Leeward Islands. Therefore, dozens of car rental companies offer the most practical way to travel between the airport, the five-mile distance to St John’s, and the rest of Antigua. Avis, Thrifty, and Dollar branches are available alongside several local companies. Maps are recommended for navigating Antigua’s roads, many of which lack proper or any signage, and four-wheel drives are the safest way to travel the island’s hilly roads.