TCI News

Fear that Horrible Airport Reviews damaging TCI Tourism

Published

2 years ago

April 8, 2024

Shanieka

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

Gorgeous beaches, mouthwatering cuisine, warm locals and the beautiful culture of the Turks and Caicos all pale in comparison to the horror show of the Providenciales/Howard Hamilton International Airport and that opinion is coming directly from visitors.

“Because of the way this experience was handled? Not coming back,” a visitor who was stuck in the airport overnight in March told us, while holding his tired three year old daughter.

Dozens of similar reviews have been shared with the Magnetic Media news team directly as well as online. On some occasions the posts are riddled with expletives as tourists express their frustration.

That a day at the airport can overshadow the Turks and Caicos’ extensive and luxurious offerings is a serious concern for stakeholders.

“There is no way this can continue for another 3-5 years. Too many tourists are saying never again.”

That timeline is supposed to be the cutoff point for a redevelopment of the airport.

But the question that operator put to our news team is if the pristine reputation of the country can continue to take the beating that the airport is giving it. Weekends are usually the worst. The problem, well documented over the years, is that too many aircraft come in too short a time frame bogging down arrivals and departures and concentrating thousands of guests in the airport at the same time.

It’s clearly the major issue, as on weekdays which usually have low traffic travelers report being in and out in minutes.

On the worst days though it results in a crush of people with barely standing room in the terminal while others wait in long lines in the blazing sun. The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) which oversees all government owned international airports in the country has begun to divert flights to private airfields nearby.

Godfrey Stewart, TCIAA CEO told the news team it was ‘simply an innovation to facilitate and maximize time and minimize diversion anywhere.’

“The option to use private ramps is not new. It’s situational as and [used] when needed. The TCIAA operations team understood the need to improvise and did so,” Smith told us

It comes at no charge to the TCIAA and is ‘ according to the CEO who described it as ‘most helpful.’

FBO operators aren’t as convinced, and they say a permanent solution is needed

“It’s not ideal but it’s better than forcing them to circle for extended periods or have to divert because they need to land and there is no room. That the airport thinks this is a better idea than spreading out the flights and continues to try to accept 50 flights in too short a window is really unfortunate,” one told us.

The FBO’s aren’t the only ones who think this way, islanders and visitors have been calling for a drastic change in scheduling as well to spread out the flights allowing less congestion and smoother operations. For the government though that is a no-can-do for the Turks and Caicos.

“Slot management is program scheduling of flights to control volume and timing of flights. It works best in large airports rather than secondary airports like HHIA.

Airlines build their flight schedule around its hub and connection demands at major hubs,” Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Security, told the news team months prior when we had asked about the issue in the midst of another flare up of congestion.

Already visitors who have experienced the airport are warning others to pick a trip elsewhere

‘It obviously is outdated and in need of a huge renovation. I really can’t see myself coming back here. For a place to be expensive and the first thing you go through,” a traveler said in a January 4 post on Yelp where the airport has a two-star rating.

On March 25th another customer posted his detailed experience

“I’ve travelled to many small countries/airports in my life, but have never experienced anything even close to as bad as the Providenciales airport in Turks and Caicos. For our departure, we waited 1 hour just to check our bags, then another 2.5 hours in a jam-packed, dirty, 85 degree line to get to security. Once in the gate area, another 2 hours before they announced that the flight was canceled. We had to spend $1200 for one-night hotel accommodations, then went back the next day for more of the same: delays, waiting in long lines in high heat. Turks and Caicos has nice beaches and clear water, but this airport experience, along with the high costs, bad roads, water restrictions, and mosquitos do not make it worth the visit. Never again.”

It was similar to a February review, ”Utter and complete disaster. No staff, poor line management and extremely, extremely long lines— Not sure I want to experience this again. Go elsewhere.”

“Worst airport, I would not recommend going to Turks and Caicos because the airport is so terrible. It is hell on earth, maybe worse,” said another. And possibly one of the most damning came from a seasoned traveler

“This is the worst organized airport I’ve ever been to, and I’m an airline pilot so I’ve been to a lot of them,” a traveler said on March 9.

That was only some of the 2024 reviews and almost all advise travelers to avoid the country completely.

With the growing popularity of the Turks and Caicos the government is expecting to hit a million stay over guests soon the bulk of which will likely have to be funneled through the Providenciales International Airport.

With no slowdown in sight some industry professionals are already worried that if the country doesn’t find a permanent solution to the crisis it will start to pay for that with lower arrival numbers.

News

Saunders Tells Caribbean Media: Be Seen, Be Heard – But What About TCI

Published

1 week ago

August 25, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”

Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”

Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.

The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.

Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.

Saunders believes AI can help.

He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.

He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.

His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”

For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.

That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us

Bahamas News

Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday

Published

2 weeks ago

August 20, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.

Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.

According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.

The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.

Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.

However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.

The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.

PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band

News

BermudAir Launches New York Area’s First Nonstop Service to South Caicos, Now Just a 3.5 Hour Flight from Newark

Published

2 weeks ago

August 20, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

Twice-Weekly Nonstop Flights Begin December 20 with Fares from $347 One Way, Creating Direct Access to Salterra Resort & Spa

– New Route Expands BermudAir’s Winter Turks & Caicos Network –

[New York, NY – August 20, 2026] – BermudAir, the leading premium leisure carrier to Bermuda and the Caribbean, today announced it will introduce nonstop flights to South Caicos from Newark this winter. The route places one of the Caribbean’s most secluded island destinations just 3.5 hours from the New York area for the first time.

The new service starts on December 20, 2026, operating on Sundays and Thursdays, and will be the only nonstop service to the destination from the New York area. This seasonal service will operate through April 25, 2027. Fares start at $347 one way ($773 roundtrip) and go on sale today.

The new South Caicos route creates gives travelers two distinct luxury resort options, with direct access to Salterra, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, recently named the No. 1 resort in Turks and Caicos by Condé Nast Traveler.

Set across 85 beachfront acres with a 3,000-foot private white-sand beach, Salterra brings a full luxury resort experience to an island still defined by its historic salinas, pristine waters, bonefishing flats and uninhabited cays. Upon landing at South Caicos International Airport (XSC), guests are approximately 10 minutes from the resort.

While flights go on sale today, the airline’s BermudAir Holidays vacation-packaging division will offer curated travel to South Caicos from next month, featuring flights, hotels and authentic island experiences, with bundled discounts and value-added perks, making it even easier to explore the destination.

Previously BermudAir announced seven new routes to Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, from Newark (EWR), Boston (BOS), Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), St Petersburg/Tampa (PIE) and Toronto (YYZ) which will all start in December except for Fort Lauderdale which begins October 26.

Expanded Winter Season

To South Caicos:
Twice-weekly nonstop from Newark (Sundays and Thursdays) from December 20 through April 25, 2027.
To Turks and Caicos:
Weekly nonstop from Newark (Saturdays) and one weekly direct service (Thursdays) from December 19 through April 29, 2027;
Weekly nonstop service from Boston (Saturdays), from December 19 through May 1, 2027;
Weekly nonstop service from Baltimore-Washington (Thursdays), from December 24 through April 29, 2027;
Twice-weekly nonstop service from Raleigh-Durham (Thursdays and Sundays), from December 20 through May 2, 2027;
Thrice-weekly service from Fort Lauderdale (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays), from October 26 through May 3, 2027;
Twice-weekly nonstop service from St Petersburg/Tampa (Mondays and Thursdays), from December 21 through May 3, 2027; and
Weekly nonstop service from Toronto (Saturdays), from December 19 through May 1, 2027.

“We’re thrilled to continue expanding our Caribbean network as the premium leisure carrier from North America,” said Adam Scott, Founder and CEO of BermudAir. “Now New Yorkers can fly nonstop to two distinct sides of the Turks and Caicos Islands — Providenciales and the secluded island of South Caicos, home to the exquisite Salterra and Sailrock South Caicos resorts.”

The airline consistently earns Net Promoter Scores of 70+, one of the highest ratings in the airline industry. All flights will be operated on comfortable Embraer E190 aircraft, offering passengers the airline’s signature warm service and authentic island hospitality.

“South Caicos has always felt worlds away, and that is part of its magic,” said Michael Tibbetts, Founder and CEO of Salterra. “Beginning this winter, guests can fly nonstop from Newark in 3.5 hours, land at one of the newest international airports in the region and be at Salterra minutes later. This route makes a long weekend escape and an extended stay to one of the Caribbean’s most unspoiled islands remarkably easy, without changing the sense of discovery that makes South Caicos so special.”

For more information or to book flights, visit www.flybermudair.com. Salterra will offer dedicated stay packages timed to BermudAir’s Thursday and Sunday nonstop service. To book a stay at Salterra, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, visit www.salterra.com