Inside Tobago’s New Airport Terminal At ANR Robinson International Airport

On October 13, 2026, the new east terminal at the ANR Robinson International Airport was opened, with public access being granted the next day.

Originally built in the 1980s, the now south terminal has seen better days and was in desperate need of an upgrade. After going back and forth between the idea of renovations or building an entirely new terminal, the government decided to go with the latter.

After the site for the new terminal was earmarked, construction started in mid-2020, with the promise delivering a modern 25,000 square foot building capable of handling up to three million passengers per year.

The project reached practical completion on March 15, 2025 and was handed over to the Trinidad and Tobago government, with final works expected to be completed at a later date. Following a number of missed deadlines, the new east terminal was inaugurated on October 13, 2026.

The new terminal can accommodate up to nine aircraft simultaneously. In the original render, there were three heavy gates, two medium gates and four parking spots for small aircraft. However, only two of the heavy gates on the western side were outfitted with jet bridges, most likely as a cost-saving measure. Jetways can always be added later as a quick look on Google Maps shows that spots were marked for the positioning of a bridge.

I had the chance to visit a few days after the opening to experience a domestic arrival and departure. As you continue reading, you’ll realize that many of the shops were still in the final stages of being completed. However, this preview really is about giving an idea of what the terminal itself looks like and what to expect in the future.

On landing, passengers are guided to the domestic baggage area. The entrance features art work of turtles, glass bottom boats, the water wheel, and a mix of other flora and fauna. There is also a large “Welcome To Tobago” sign.

The baggage hall is much larger, with a snaking belt, making pick up easily accessible.

Once you exit the baggage collection area, you enter the main landside arrivals hall. In this area, there are food and tourist shops lining the outer perimeter. The central section features a number of smaller booths dedicated to the popular sweets vendors that would have been previously across the road from the old terminal.

From here, you can either exit the airport via the arrivals exit, or head to the check-in hall if you need catch a separate connecting flight.

Moving outside, the departures and arrivals area is in an L-shape, with passenger pick-up and drop-off next to the building, with the inner parking spots being reserved for taxis and other hired transportation. Further down, there are more spots for private parking.

With Tobago Carnival taking place at the end of October, there was also a large “Tobago” sign to the front painted in local art work featuring the steel pan, masqueraders, and other related themes.

Like most newer airports in the Caribbean, the terminal features high ceilings with lots of glass, allowing for use of more natural light on the inside.

Moving over to the check-in area, there are 18 counters, as well as a few self-check-in kiosks, along with a few seats. I’m a big fan of self-check-in, and was able to get my ticket printed in under a minute.

Of course I had to take a peek in the washroom. I expect it to remain just as clean as it is right now, as they already do a pretty good job in that area. Not something you see quite often this side of the world.

Once checked in, there is a corridor that leads you to the start of the security checkpoint. This corridor also leads to the arrivals area displayed above.

After clearing security, passengers enter the departure hall which combines both domestic and international flights, unlike the old airport which had separate halls depending if you were domestic or not.

The ground floor seen here in the extent of this photo caters to domestic flights, with two shops in the middle section. What’s strange is that there isn’t a single charging outlet in this area, and I hope they do consider adding these in the near future.

I mean, the airport mostly sees domestic flights as it is, so shouldn’t they get some priority? On the plus side, there is free Wi-Fi available throughout the entire airport.

Moving upstairs, there is more seating, as well as power outlets, and a handful of shops selling food and other touristy items. A Caribbean Airlines duty-free shop is also in the works. Based on the original design, this section would have comprised of two gates for medium aircraft, but will serve as a general seating area in the interim.

The general seating area continues on to the international gates via a long corridor. There are more shops, and an area dedicated to local art, as well as a wall commemorating various historic figures who would have played a pivotal role in Tobago’s development.

They also have an enclosed play area for young children, and a prayer room to the left.

Heading to the international gates, we see similar themes with adequate seating, charging outlets, and more shops. There is also a business center and first-class lounge expected to open at a later date. As mentioned before, there was still a lot of last-minute construction and preparation of booths and shops, so it will be some time before we really see the full scale of what passengers can expect airside.

Besides the shortage of charging ports, the new airport terminal is modern and impressive, with more than enough capacity to handle Tobago’s growing tourism needs. However, a new terminal is not the be all and end all, and will not instantly drum up more interest to the island.

Both the Tobagonian government and private investors have to give potential tourists a reason to visit. For starters, Tobago is in desperate need of better accommodations. Not counting Airbnbs, the list of hotels and resorts is extremely limited, with the requiring urgent modernization.

Airlines simply will not consider adding flights to an island if they feel guests cannot be comfortably and adequately accommodated. The good news is that a privately-funded five-star Marriott is now under construction, and is expected to welcome guests starting in 2029. Trinidad and Tobago’s government also plans to divest ownership of the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort in the hopes that outsider investors can modernize the property and operate it privately.

Tobago already has excellent natural attractions, but it’s up to both private and public entities to turn them into a proper year-round experience. Attractions should have standardized and reasonable pricing and visiting schedules, with multiple booking options.

Besides what currently exists, maybe they can capitalize on other unexplored experiences. Lately, I’ve seen many foreigners commenting about the wide variety of food options available in Trinidad, saying that it ranks as some of the best in the Caribbean. Experiences like this can easily be transplanted to Tobago, possibly turning the island into a food mecca.

Supporting infrastructure also needs improvement. I’ve covered accommodations and attractions, but what about getting around? In Barbados and St. Maarten for instance, it’s extremely easy to get from the airport to the capital and some other tourist spots with public transport. Routes and pricing information is easily available online, and I wish there was something similar for Tobago.

As a Trinidadian, I myself have had a hard time finding information about getting around via public transport. At minimum, it should be easy to get from the airport or seaport to locations such as Store Bay, Pigeon Point and Milford Road. However, most visitors are relegated to renting a car or paying for expensive hired transportation. With the airport now further east of the beaches, maybe the government can add a reliable bus shuttle service along that western stretch?

Finally, Tobago’s Tourism board has to ensure that the world actually knows the island exist. This can come about through partnerships with airlines and vacation companies via packaged tours. While this might not be the best example, when Sandals entered the Vincentian market, they were able to offer flight and hotel packages, adding significantly to St. Vincent’s total visitor numbers. After opening in mid-2024, the island saw a 25% uplift in stayover numbers, with the majority of that being attributed to Sandals alone.  

It feels like a chicken and egg scenario as investors may be afraid to put their money into something that might not initially bear fruit, but at the same time, you can’t market a product that does not exist. Some government intervention is necessary to give private developers and tour operators the necessary leg room to build better products, so that the island could have a decent portfolio when they are marketed on the world stage.

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