Dominica is targeting completion of its new international airport in Wesley in the first quarter of 2028, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said during his November 3, 2026 Independence Day address. The Caribbean island’s government also aims to finalise an Open Skies agreement with the United States by year-end, while American Airlines is preparing to operate a larger aircraft to Dominica.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit set out the plans in his official address for the 48th anniversary of Dominica’s independence, delivered at Windsor Park Sports Stadium. Skerrit said the government was working to make Dominica easier to reach.
Wesley Airport Completion Now Targeted for Q1 2028
Dominica’s new international airport, under construction in Wesley on the island’s northeast coast, is on schedule for completion in the first quarter of 2028, according to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s November 3 address. Skerrit said more than 400 Dominicans were working on the airport, which he called the largest project the country has ever undertaken.
The latest completion target differs from the timetable presented in the Dominica government’s August 4, 2026 budget address, which indicated the second quarter of 2028. An earlier government statement dated December 16, 2025 had identified 2027 as the expected completion year.
According to the August 4 budget address, earthworks and culvert construction at the Wesley airport were approximately 78% complete, while runway and taxiway construction had passed 60%. Work was also advancing on the cargo facility, air traffic control tower, fuel farm and aircraft rescue and firefighting building. These figures date from August, and the November address gave no new percentages.
Dominica’s 2026–2027 budget allocated EC$250 million to the international airport project. The amount is the allocation for that fiscal year, not the airport’s total construction cost. The budget also stated that preparations for the operational phase had begun, covering the regulatory framework, staffing, operational systems and commercial arrangements.
Skerrit said in the November 3 address that the Wesley airport is being built “without a loan that our children will have to repay”, and encouraged Dominicans hoping to offer tourism services or run a business at the airport to submit an expression of interest. The address gave no date for the start of commercial flights.
American Airlines Preparing Larger Aircraft for Dominica
American Airlines is preparing to introduce a larger aircraft on its service to Dominica, according to Roosevelt Skerrit’s November 3 Independence Day address. The Prime Minister said: “American Airlines is preparing to fly a larger aircraft here.”
The address did not specify the aircraft type, seating capacity, deployment date or any change in flight frequencies. The statement indicates preparations by American Airlines, as described by Dominica’s Prime Minister, rather than confirming that a larger aircraft has entered service.
Dominica Aims to Conclude U.S. Open Skies Agreement by Year-End
Dominica’s government is also seeking to finalise an Open Skies agreement with the United States before the end of 2026. In his November 3 address, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said: “we aim to finalise an Open Skies Agreement with the United States by year’s end.”
The statement sets out a Dominica government objective. It does not confirm that a bilateral agreement has been signed or has entered into force, and the address gave no details of the proposed agreement’s terms or implementation schedule.
FAQ
When is Dominica’s new international airport expected to be completed?
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said on November 3, 2026, that Dominica’s international airport in Wesley was on schedule for completion in the first quarter of 2028. The address did not specify a date for the start of commercial flights.
Has American Airlines confirmed when it will introduce a larger aircraft to Dominica?
In his November 3, 2026 address, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said American Airlines was preparing to fly a larger aircraft to Dominica. The address did not specify the aircraft type, additional seating capacity or deployment date.
Has Dominica signed an Open Skies agreement with the United States?
Roosevelt Skerrit’s November 3, 2026 address set a government objective of finalising an Open Skies agreement with the United States by the end of 2026. The address did not announce a signed agreement.
