JAGS McCartney International Airport (GDT), also called Cockburn Town Grand Turk International Airport, sits on Grand Turk Island in Turks and Caicos. Since there’s no public transportation on the island, the airport can only be accessed by rental car or taxi.
I’ve visited this airport multiple times while hopping around the Caribbean. It’s a stress-free, compact airport that’s made up of nothing more than a landing strip and a small building, but it’s easy to navigate and has friendly folk working there. From the flights arriving here and the check-in process to the airport facilities and parking, here is everything you need to know.
Departing and arriving flights
While designated as an “International” airport, JAGS McCartney operates scheduled domestic services only, connecting to other Turks and Caicos islands: Providenciales (the most populated island), South Caicos, and Salt Cay. Two airlines handle these island hops: interCaribbean Airways and Caicos Express Airways.
The tiny runway means small aircraft only: small turboprops typically handle the services, like Caicos Express’s Beechcraft 1900s and Cessna 402Cs, or interCaribbean’s Twin Otters and EMB-120s. It’s worth noting before booking, particularly if you’re a nervous flyer or traveling with someone who’s not a fan of smaller aircraft. The airport does get slightly busier during the peak tourist season, but in my experience, it never feels unmanageable.
Other flights
There are some private planes that land here, but they tend to arrive at Providenciales International Airport (PLS), on the nearby island of Providenciales, first to clear customs and immigration. PLS is also the only airport with a fixed-base operator (a company that has permission by an airport to operate on its premises), so GDT remains rather quiet in terms of flight traffic.
Check-in
Checking in 30 minutes before departure is typically sufficient at this small island airport. You’ll find a small security checkpoint that typically isn’t a significant wait before arriving at your gate.
Waiting areas
Due to the airport’s compact size, there are just a few seats available whilst waiting to board and also in the general terminal. My advice is not to arrive too early. Instead, enjoy the sunshine outside and arrive close to your departure time. This minimizes the amount of time you’ll have to spend in the airport, where you’ll potentially be forced to stand, especially if you’re traveling during peak season.
Boarding
Cockburn Town Grand Turk International has no formal boarding procedures in place. However, both of the airlines try to board according to the groups on passengers’ boarding passes. A word of warning: boarding in some of these small island towns can feel a little disorganized. There are no jet bridges, so when you board you have to walk out onto the tarmac and get onto the plane via a small flight of stairs.
Airport facilities
Inside the terminal, there’s a check-in area for both airlines: interCaribbean and Caicos Express. Neither of them has special lines reserved for premium customers and you can walk up to the counters easily, as the airport never gets very busy. In general, these airlines require a paper boarding pass and can be rather strict about baggage weight, so make sure you’ve packed carefully and stayed within your weight limit.
Before security, there’s a small cafe called the Cockpit Lounge, where you can grab a last-minute snack and a cup of coffee. It’s only open for breakfast and lunch, but its hours can be as relaxed as the island vibe, so don’t count on it being open late.
Parking
The airport has a small open-air parking lot across from the terminal building – all you have to do is cross the street and it’s right there. There’s no charge to park your car there. This is also where you can leave your rental vehicle when you return it. Just remember the golden rule of the road here: they drive on the left.
Car rental facilities
The rental car office is located inside the terminal, just to the right as you come inside. But since the weather is pretty much always great here, you’ll also find rental car company employees stationed in the parking lot. Tony’s Car Rental and Nathan’s Car Rental are the most well-liked operators (as the locals told me when I was visiting). You can book cars or Jeeps with them before arrival or when you arrive at the airport.
Another option is to rent a golf cart at the airport – a very popular way to get around this small island. Golf carts are available for rent, but if you have a lot of luggage, you’ll need to arrange a taxi for your bags first, as storage is minimal. But the car rental companies can also arrange for your luggage to be dropped off at your accommodation when hiring a golf cart through them.
My personal preference, though, is to rent a scooter. Both of these companies can organize a similar deal, with scooters delivered to your accommodation. When the weather’s so great, you’ll want to soak it up as much as possible, and zipping around on a scooter is the perfect way to do that.
Ground transportation
Besides car rentals, taxis are the only way to get around the island, as there are no rideshare options. You’ll find taxis waiting right outside the terminal and these are easy to spot – just look out for the white vans and cars with ‘taxi’ signs on top.
Inside the terminal you’ll find a rate card with standard costs for taxis to downtown or the cruise center. The taxis don’t have meters and just follow the set price. I found Mama Dea Taxi to be the best option (it has complimentary Wi-Fi), and you can book online before your trip.
Things to do at the airport
Believe it or not, this tiny airport has a piece of space history. Displayed right outside the terminal is an exact replica of the Friendship 7 space capsule, which splashed down off the coast of Grand Turk with American astronaut John Glenn inside. It’s a pretty cool photo op and a moment to marvel at how far we’ve come.
The airport is very small and doesn’t offer paid lounges, special VIP areas, or even lockers for luggage. Besides the small cafe there’s not much to do here, so my advice is to see it more like a bus stop than an airport.
If you happen to be island hopping and have a long layover (or a delay), don’t just sit there. Cockburn Town, the capital, is about 2 miles (3.2 km) away. It’s an easy trip to check out the National Museum, grab some great seafood (my picks are Barbie’s and Bird Cage), or just plant yourself on the soft, white sand at Cockburn Town beach. It beats a plastic airport chair any day of the week.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
