Upgraded Cayman international airport

Shortly after their arrival in the Cayman Islands on March 27, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, officially opened the recently renovated and expanded Owen Roberts International Airport (ORIA) on Grand Cayman. With the Royal Air Force Jet on the nearby tarmac, the royal couple celebrated the grand opening of the eagerly awaited airport with an enthusiastic crowd of local friends, fans and supporters.

Promising an improved travel experience for up to 2.7 million passengers per year, the upgraded airport facilities, which cost over US $67 million, are vital to the economic growth of the Cayman Islands, providing increased job opportunities, visitor spending and government revenue. More than 55 weekly flights—including a new route to and from Denver, Colorado—connect travellers to global gateways making it a popular destination for those in search of an idyllic retreat or a second home.

“The Cayman Islands is ascending to new heights,” says luxury real estate veteran and Provenance Properties Sales Executive Ruth Gustafsson. “Anyone with plans to move here will soon experience our country’s sophisticated infrastructure, not just when they travel through our impressive new airport, but also when they drive our roads, use our telecommunications or purchase real estate without hassle or red tape.” Gustafsson adds that those considering a second-home purchase in the Cayman Islands can expect a pretty spectacular lifestyle and that “travelling in and out of the country is a breeze especially with the new and improved airport”.

At 200,000 square feet, ORIA is now more than double the size of the original airport, which opened in 1953, and boasts bright open spaces and a number of enhancements including:

• Expanded arrival and departure halls
• All-new Immigration area
• Increased duty-free retail options
• New roadside concessions
• VIP diplomatic lounge
• Enhanced security screening
• Improved baggage handling and screening system
• Additional restrooms
• Increased short- and long-term parking

A ‘Meet and Greet’ airport service is also available, providing passengers with fast-track service that allows them to avoid long lines at Immigration and Customs on arrival and at security checkpoint when departing. For more information and to book this service click here.

For more information on the airport expansion or general airport queries click here.

Information on purchasing property in the Cayman Islands and the ease of this process is available here. If you want to learn how Grand Cayman can be your second home for life, contact the Provenance Properties team today.

Photos courtesy of GIS.

About the author

Andrea Lumsden has worked with Dart since 2013 and has been writing professionally since 2003. Graduating from University of Central Florida with a BA in Communication, Andrea has worked with clients across a range of industries, including financial services and real estate. Raised in Cayman by Costa Rican and American parents, she’s a New Yorker at heart who enjoys reading and travelling with her husband and three children.