
During a site visit at the Douglas-Charles Airport recently, Tourism Minister Denise Charles-Pemberton expressed confidence that the extension and grooving of the Douglas-Charles Airport runway will open doors to more source markets and larger aircraft.
She revealed that Dominica has set an ambitious tourism goal, of 500,000 visitors by 2030.
“To some that may seem like a large number, but for Dominica it represents the horizon of what we can achieve,” said the minister.
According to Charles-Pemberton, access has always been one of the greatest challenges to reaching these goals.
”Today, through the extension and grooving of our runway we are addressing this challenge head-on,” she stated. “We have already made significant progress…”
She continued, “Together we are building something world-class, something that stands out to global standards.”
Furthermore, Charles-Pemberton explained that the extension of the runway to 1,936 meters is not just an improvement, it’s an achievement.
“It represents our ability to expand beyond the current routes, giving us the capacity to welcome larger [aircraft] that carry more passengers, more cargo, and more fuel,” she noted. “This extension means that Dominica can now offer direct flights, not only to Miami, but as far as from New York.”

Charles and Valmond are like infants spending all their pocket money in a candy store. One day, all this sugar will return to haunt them.
Great. Now lets get another NA based carrier to add Dominica to their route schedule.
United Airlines will be starting flights next year!
Almost a year late and over budget. Yes. congratulations.
So the extended runway can on paper accommodate larger planes like the 737 and A320, but when fully loaded it does not meet the take-off requirements. I doubt any airline is going to risk that.
It is a win if we can keep the AA (Miami-Dominica) route. This was the main reason for the runway extension & upgrade to begin with. Unfortunately, we (Dominica) does not have any leverage, AA does and can terminate this route tomorrow without notice.
Just like AA, other airlines would be weight restricted. United will be starting flights to Dominica next year with 737-700s. (Yes, those can land and takeoff without issue).
“Tourism Minister Denise Charles-Pemberton expressed confidence that the extension and grooving of the Douglas-Charles Airport runway will open doors to more source markets and larger aircraft.”
That nasty stinking wig on her her head most probably have her confused, perhaps, turn her crazy; or she might be simply delusional!
How long ago we read on DNO that they brought some Barbadian company out of Barbados to do extension on Melville Hall Airport, the one Roosevelt Skerrit named Douglas-Charles to coincide with the opening of St. Vincent Argyle International Airport.
If indeed less than two years ago they did an extension, unless I am mad, how come this fraud is talking about extension, when they claim that the are building an International Airport, in Wesley, less than three (<3) miles away?
With that said I reiterate, Roosevelt is not building any International Airport in Wesley, he has given Wesley to his Chines masters, to build a military base, that's it!
continue to belching and waste money….increasing even water on the poor while u all got a 30% raise… soon will be election.. how are u all going to explain….are u all going to say is love I love u all….and the government really cares…..sets of vagabonds…..u all are just paranoid….
Two questions for the honorable minister :
1. You plan to have 500 000 visitors by 2030, which leaves us 6 years. What were last year’s numbers ; how many do you anticipate for each of the remaining years ?
2. This government has been in office since 2000. Why wasn’t the runway extended before thus avoiding the current disaster now plagueing Wesley with this so – called International Airport ?
HOTEP
extend the runway to accommodate more arrivals, great but also improve the present terminal building to cope with increase in arrivals then i need to agree with Mr., Burnett
why spend close to 1 billion dollars on an airport when we could have spend less than 1/2 the amount on existing one to accommodate larger aircrafts
also do we have rooms to accommodate the increase when most hotels on cbi program are at a stand still
just asking
Does this mean the mountain will be moved to governor where Frobel Lavill. Lived ? If an airport Is being built at Wesley where some land owners have not being paid and one family got half the amount agreed with the balance to come later why is the melvillhall airport being extended? This needs an explanation
I hope that is NOT the same airport the lazy do nothing UWP told us,was being extended for a Venezuelan military base, fighter jets,and bombers.Useless,negative blue party.
“This extension means that Dominica can now offer direct flights, not only to Miami, but as far as from New York.”
This again begs the question: why the need for the international airport?
To move forward as a developing island nation, we need a proper jet airport with a modern terminal building capable of receiving large groups of people simultaneously, with modern amenities. Douglas Charles, as presently constructed, is a band-aid on a gaping wound. Irrespective of the ongoing challenges at the site of the new airport, the work must continue in earnest until completion.
A large international airport will not make a difference. It will end up being a massive waste of money and will struggle to meet its operating costs. Dominica has no beach resorts and that’s why people holiday in numbers in the Caribbean. They come on package holidays. There will never be enough demand for flights to Dominica to make large passenger jets cost effective, so Dominica will continue to receive smaller aircraft – ones that can land at and take off from the existing airport. Roger’s point is a valid one.
The short answer is we don’t. It’s all about vanity.
The re-naming to douglas – charles wass to clear the way so he can slap Skerrit China airport on the front of the new one.