All About VC Bird International Airport

Located on an island called Antigua, this airport has an amazing history. Antigua is an island that is located in the West Indies and the region of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. The main island is actually Antigua and Barbuda. Some may know the island as Wadadli. The meaning of the name is actually 'our own'. You can find the island about eight kilometers from St. John's. St. John's is the capital of Antigua and Barbuda.

Before 1985 VC Bird International Airport was known as Coolidge International Airport. It was inspired by a Captain in the United States Army Air Service, Capt. Hamilton Coolidge (born in 1895 and died in 1918). The airport was originally an American air base that was built in World War II. Whenever the war was over it became a civil airport. Later it was named VC Bird International Airport after Sir Vere Cornwall Bird. He was the first Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. In 1994 he was even declared a national hero. He died in 1999. A new passenger terminal was under way in December 2005, Antigua and Barbuda Millennium Airport Corporation announced. This is said to be able to be of service for about 30 years.

There has been one known report of an accident around the area. A Pan Am Boeing 707-121B that was coming from Fort de France, Martinique and was suppose to land at St John's. What happened was the plane hit Chance Peak on Montserrat. Montserrat is an island just southwest of Antigua. There were 30 people aboard and they all died. They say that the pilot thought he was going landing in Antigua. because of this accident there has since been a VHF omnirange transmitter that was installed at the St. John's airport, to prevent this from happening again.

There was another occurrence on May 30, 2002 when a British Airways Boeing 777 that was flying in from London actually was jarred in the tarmac that had been freshly resurfaced. They used a truck to free the aircraft and there was no injuries.

There are several airlines that come through the airport. Some of these air crafts include Air Canada, Air Caraibes, American Airlines and the American Eagle. Then from Europe there is British Airways, Condor Airlines, Excel Airways, First Choice Airways, and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Some more of the American airlines include US Airways and Delta Air Lines.

The airport is located approximately ten minutes from Saint John's. You can get there by the Antigua Sugar Factory Rd. If not by the route, you can gain access by taking the Old Parham Road and then Airport Rd.

Unfortunately there is no public transportation that will take you to and from the airport. There are also charter flights available for those wanting to jump from island to island. To go to New York, it takes approximately four hours. Then there is Miami, which takes three hours. Baltimore takes four hours. If you are traveling to Frankfurt, Germany it will take about nine and a half hours. Only about an hour to Puerto Rico.

Accommodations for the disabled are also available. There are lift ramps and first aid that is accessible. There are even wheelchairs at the airport. Many other accommodations are also available such as a VIP lounge, a restaurant and bar. Then there is a porter and shopping as well as access to an ATM machine. The airport code is ANU. You can reach the airport by mail at P.O. Box 1051, St. John's, Antigua. If you need to reach them by phone, call 268-462-0358. The fax number is 268-462-0642 Statistics show that the length of the runway is 9000m and the elevation is 62m.

Traveling through VC Bird International Airport is accommodating and makes your traveling easy. There are several hotels in the area that you can lodge at if you decide to stay in the area. Enjoy your vacation!

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