Norman B. Saunders Sr. International Airport
Norman B. Saunders Sr. International Airport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Location | South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 6 ft / 2 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 21°30′57″N 071°31′43″W / 21.51583°N 71.52861°W | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  XSC Location in South Caicos | |||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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Norman B. Saunders Sr. International Airport (formerly South Caicos Airport) (IATA: XSC, ICAO: MBSC) is an airport serving South Caicos,[1] the seventh largest of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The airport is named in honour of Hon. Norman B. Saunders Sr., the 3rd Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the longest-serving Member of the House of Assembly in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Renaming in Honour of Hon. Norman B. Saunders Sr.
[edit]On May 24, 2024, the South Caicos Airport was officially renamed the Norman B. Saunders Sr. International Airport in honour of Hon. Norman B. Saunders Sr., the third Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the nation's longest-serving Member of Parliament.[3] This renaming recognized Saunders’ nearly 50 years of political service, spanning from 1967 to 2016, during which he served across six decades — from the 1960s to the 2010s. Throughout his distinguished career, Saunders remained undefeated in elections, representing constituencies on South Caicos as both a Progressive National Party (PNP) candidate and as an independent candidate. He is also one of the longest-serving Members of Parliament in the Caribbean.[4]
Saunders led the Progressive National Party to a decisive victory in the 1980 General Election, becoming Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands. He was subsequently returned as Chief Minister following the 1984 General Election, marking the territory's first consecutive electoral victories for a political leader. He is also widely recognized as the "Father of Tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands", having been instrumental in establishing the high-end tourism model that drives the Turks and Caicos Islands' tourism industry[5] and overall economy.[6]
During the renaming ceremony, Hon. Saunders reflected on his contributions to the country's tourism development, particularly the importance of South Caicos’ future in the industry.
In March 2025, the Norman B. Saunders Sr. International Airport welcomed its first direct international service, with American Airlines operating flights between Miami and South Caicos (Flight AA 3815),[7] alongside domestic connections to Providenciales and Grand Turk. The expansion of air service further strengthened South Caicos' role in the national tourism and transportation network.
Facilities
[edit]The airport is at an elevation of 6 ft (2 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 11/29 with an asphalt surface measuring 1,826 m × 30 m (5,991 ft × 98 ft).[1]
Airlines and destinations
[edit]| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| American Eagle | Miami[8] |
| InterCaribbean Airways | Providenciales |
| Caicos Express Airways | Grand Turk |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Airport information for MBSC". World Aero Data. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Data current as of October 2006.
- ^ Airport information for XSC at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
- ^ Full Video of The Official renaming Ceremony of the Norman B. Saunders International Airport, South Caicos - Fri May 24th 2024 | By Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority | Facebook. Retrieved 27 April 2025 – via www.facebook.com.
- ^ "Election Years". www.gov.tc. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ^ "Norman B. Saunders, Sr. political career". suntci.com. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ^ "Macro Performance". www.gov.tc. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ^ "American Airlines now flies direct from Miami to South Caicos". Visit Turks and Caicos Islands. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
- ^ Liu, Jim (19 February 2025). "American Moves South Caicos Launch to late-1Q25". aeroroutes.com. Aeroroutes. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
External links
[edit]
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