Barbadians and visitors flying out of the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) will face more than a doubling of departure tax effective December 1, airport officials have confirmed.

GAIA Chief Executive Officer Leon Romero said passengers will pay Bds$55 (approx. US$28), an increase from the present Bds$ 25 (US $13) as part of the airport's mandate to become more self-sufficient.

The GAIA official said the increased departure tax would be collected manually at check-in points until January 2007 but will be incorporated into the cost of airline tickets from February 1.

Romero said the increase, which will bring Barbados on par with other Caribbean countries, would assist with the massive capital development program being undertaken at the facility as well help management cope with increased operational costs.

He said future plans at the facility include an extension to the aircraft parking apron and the departure lounge, the construct a new cargo terminal, improvements to the range of the airport's navigational facilities and the construction of four passenger boarding bridges.

The Barbados government recently corporatized the GAIA and gave it a mandate to fund its own operations.