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Lastly, we’re see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. The brand new ANR Robinson Worldwide Airport terminal will quickly open its doorways to the general public in early 2026.
On Monday, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Finance Davendranath Tancoo introduced the 2026 Nationwide Price range. As a part of the studying, he talked about the brand new terminal on the ANR Robinson Worldwide Airport will likely be “absolutely operational” by the second quarter of 2026.
Sadly, this doesn’t give us a agency opening date, however I’ll need to assume it’s a while between Q1 and Q2 2026. My assumption is that they could look to first start home operations between Trinidad and Tobago, earlier than shifting on to facilitating worldwide flights.
In idea, getting home operations up and operating must be a lot simpler as there can be much less stringent necessities that have to be met. With home flights in movement, they may then proceed finalizing final minute fittings and certification works for worldwide operations.
The venture which was began in July 2020, reached technical completion on March 15, 2025. To match right this moment’s fashionable requirements, the brand new airport options jet bridges, LED lighting, high-efficiency air-conditioning, and photo voltaic panels to offset energy consumption.
The constructing design is much like numerous different Caribbean airports, that includes excessive ceilings with an all-glass exterior, providing passengers and different patrons a wonderful view of the encompassing areas.
In line with the unique design plans, the airport was deliberate hanlde as much as 5 extensive physique plane (together with Boeing 747s and Airbus A330s), with 4 further spots for smaller turboprop plane (primarily for Caribbean Airways ATR service).
For now, solely two jet bridges have been put in despite the fact that the ramp itself will likely be able to facilitating the preliminary plane numbers. As Tobago at the moment has a restricted variety of medium and heavy flights, the choice is comprehensible, and extra bridges may be fitted in within the deliberate spots as soon as visitors numbers enhance over time.
A brand new terminal isn’t the be all, and finish all
Having a brand new airport terminal is nice, and as a Trinidadian, I’m excited to offer it a go as soon as it opens. Nevertheless, an airport alone won’t instantly carry added airlift. One in every of Tobago’s largest downfalls is the dearth of ample and fashionable lodging capability.
In addition to the plethora of Airbnbs, there aren’t any noteworthy motels or resorts to speak about. The present inventory of motels is both run down or simply less than right this moment’s requirements, making it laborious to persuade any main airline to think about including Tobago to their route community.
On a constructive be aware, there are a couple of initiatives within the pipeline, and on the funds studying, particular point out was given to the upcoming Marriott and Hilton Tapestry initiatives. On the time of the technical completion handover, then Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley talked about that they restarted talks with Sandals Resorts Worldwide within the hopes of getting them to offer Tobago a re-evaluation.
Credit score: Hilton
Since then, there have been no additional updates concerning progress of those talks. Wanting additional throughout the area, St. Vincent opened the newly constructed Argyle Worldwide Airport in February 2017, however didn’t see a significant enhance in air visitors till Sandals stepped in, leading to a 25% enhance in customer arrivals on the finish of 2024.
We will even discuss Saudi Arabia’s Crimson Sea venture. Previous to the venture, there was no airlift in that area, and the Crimson Sea Worldwide Airport was solely constructed as a method of constructing it simpler to get passengers to the multitude of resorts which might be at the moment being constructed throughout the island chains.
