On July 1, 2026, senior officials from the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) and key project stakeholders gathered in Newcastle, St. James, for a ceremonial sod-turning event, marking the official launch of a transformative multi-million-dollar expansion project for the Vance W. Amory International Airport (VAIA). The long-awaited infrastructure initiative, more than a decade in development, is poised to redefine Nevis’ regional connectivity, catalyze tourism growth, and strengthen the island’s long-term economic trajectory for current and future generations.
Speaking to attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony, Nevis Premier Mark Brantley—who also holds portfolios for Tourism, Finance, and Economic Planning—framed the milestone as a landmark moment in the island’s developmental history. Brantley, whose administration is led by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), emphasized that the initiative represents a deliberate, forward-thinking investment in Nevis’ next chapter.
“We are gathered here today to make history, breaking ground for an investment that will propel Nevis forward for the next generation,” Brantley said. “This government is committed to lifting this island to new heights, and we are building this not just for today, but for the generations that will come after us. A modern, expanded Vance W. Amory International Airport is not just good for Nevis—it strengthens the entire Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.”
Brantley detailed the 10-plus years of persistent work that brought the project from concept to construction, noting that the path to groundbreaking required navigating complex technical challenges, iterative redesigns, and extensive negotiations to secure the necessary financing. “Major infrastructure projects take time, and this has been a relentless, ongoing effort,” he explained. “We designed and redesigned, went back to the drawing board time and again, and once we had a solid plan, we still had to secure the financing. There were long days and difficult nights navigating financial hurdles, political coordination, and planning for how Nevis would sustain a project of this scale. This was never an easy task, but we stayed the course to deliver a project that benefits all Nevisians.”
The expansion project is expected to deliver widespread economic benefits at every stage, from construction through long-term operation. During the 18-month construction phase, the initiative will create substantial employment opportunities for local contractors, skilled tradespeople, general laborers, and local service providers, while boosting demand for locally sourced goods and materials. Once completed, the upgraded airport will support dozens of new permanent positions across operations, security, customs and immigration, ground handling, maintenance, and other core airport services. Beyond direct airport employment, increased air access and higher visitor volumes are projected to spur new growth and opportunity for local businesses and entrepreneurs across tourism-adjacent sectors, including hospitality, transportation, tour operations, restaurants, retail, and more.
Brantley publicly thanked the three key funding partners that made the project possible: the Federal Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, which guaranteed a EC$20 million loan from the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank (SKNANB); the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), which provided a US$20 million concessional loan; and private investor Patrick Drahi, who contributed US$25 million in direct investment capital to the initiative.
His Excellency Edward Ling-Wen Tao, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, reaffirmed Taiwan’s longstanding commitment to partnership with Nevis and shared confidence in the project’s ability to drive shared prosperity. “On behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I extend my sincerest congratulations to the government and people of Nevis on this historic milestone,” Ambassador Tao said. “I am confident that we will continue to collaborate productively on the airport expansion project and other meaningful development initiatives, further strengthening the unbreakable bond between our two sides. I wish this project a smooth construction process, successful completion, and lasting prosperity and opportunity for the wonderful people of Nevis.”
The ceremony also featured remarks from a broad cross-section of project stakeholders, including Alexis Jeffers, Project Coordinator and Advisor to the Premier on Investments; Michael Perkins, Project Manager; Oral Brandy, General Manager of the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (NASPA); Seamus Kelly, representing lead contractor Kelly Construction; Leonardo Perez, Lead Engineer with Perez Engineering Construction and Consulting Services Ltd.; Anthony Galloway, Chief Executive Officer of SKNANB; John Hanley, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism; and Janesha Daniel, local community representative.
According to the project contractor, the entire expansion is scheduled for completion within 18 months. Key infrastructure upgrades include a 2,000-foot extension of the existing runway, which will bring the total runway length to 6,000 feet. Additional components of the project include construction of a dedicated on-site fuel farm, a new state-of-the-art fire hall, a fully expanded and modernized main terminal building, a purpose-built new Customs Hall, and an enlarged parking apron designed to accommodate up to 50 executive jets simultaneously.