Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND) — The Complete Master Guide 2026
Grenada’s gateway is named for the assassinated 1979 revolution leader, sits 8 km from St George’s, and lands you on the Spice Isle — nutmeg, mace, cocoa, the underwater sculpture park, and the still-recovering sister island Carriacou where Hurricane Beryl made Category 4 landfall in July 2024. This guide covers visas, post-Beryl realities, transport, and the limited 2026 route map.
Quick Reference
Maurice Bishop International (renamed in 2009 from Point Salines International, in honor of the 1979 revolution leader assassinated in 1983) is Grenada’s only international airport. The terminal sits at the southern tip of the main island, 8 km from St George’s, and handles the modest seasonal traffic mix: BA from London Gatwick, Virgin Atlantic from LGW, JetBlue from JFK seasonal, American from MIA, Air Canada from Toronto, and Caribbean Airlines from Trinidad and Barbados. The 2,743-metre runway can take widebodies; in practice, most arrivals are 757s and 737s.
Table of Contents
🏢 1. Terminals & the 2009 Renaming
The current terminal opened in 1984, named Point Salines International, and was renamed in 2009 to Maurice Bishop International to honor the slain People’s Revolutionary Government leader. The 2,743-metre runway was originally built by Cuban contractors in the early 1980s as part of the New Jewel Movement government’s development push (the Reagan-administration concern about this runway became a stated rationale for the 1983 US invasion). The airport handles around 640,000 passengers per year through a single terminal, four jet bridges, and three hardstand positions.
Concourse and gate layout
Four jet bridges plus three hardstand positions handle widebody and narrowbody traffic. Gate 1 typically handles BA 777 widebody; Gates 2–3 handle American 757, JetBlue A320, Air Canada 737. Hardstand positions 4–6 serve regional Caribbean Airlines ATR-72, LIAT 2020 ATR-42, SVG Air Twin Otter to Carriacou. Walking the concourse end-to-end takes about three minutes.
Arrivals — passport, baggage, customs
Two passport-control zones: CARICOM/Grenadian lane and visitor lane. Visitor lane runs 4 manned counters plus 2 e-gates (added 2022) for Grenadian, CARICOM, and selected Commonwealth passports. Two baggage carousels handle widebody arrivals. Customs runs the green/red split. The Grenada Tourism Tax (USD 14 / XCD 38) is bundled into airline tickets since 2018 — nothing additional to pay on arrival.
Departures — check-in, security, the 3-lane reality
Twelve check-in counters split: BA + Virgin (1–3), American + Delta (4–5), JetBlue (6), Air Canada + Caribbean Airlines (7–9), LIAT 2020 + SVG Air (10–12). Bag-tag-it kiosks at BA, AA, JetBlue. Security has two lanes plus a priority lane during peak. Post-security duty-free strip runs about 90 metres — modest but functional, with notable Grenada-specific buys including chocolate from the Grenada Chocolate Company and several spice-heritage products.
Family services, accessibility, the small-airport feel
One family room landside, one airside (renovated 2023). No dedicated children’s play area. Wheelchair assistance via airline 48 hours pre-flight; walk-in lift assistance has 30–45 minute wait at peak. Lost-luggage office (BD-Air) on arrivals level; English-language service throughout (the only language).
Editor’s note — GND is a small but functional airport with a notable backstory — the runway was the political hot-button that contributed to the 1983 US invasion, and the airport was renamed in 2009 in formal recognition of Maurice Bishop’s legacy. Plan 90 minutes door-to-gate for any departure and you’ll have time for a Carib lager and a 75% Grenada Chocolate Company bar at the airside cafe. The Spice Isle’s heritage shows itself most in the duty-free zone — nutmeg, mace, cocoa, and the chocolate are genuinely worth the buy.
🛂 2. Visa, Currency & the Spice Isle Reality
Grenada is part of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the broader CARICOM economic union. It uses the East Caribbean Dollar (shared with St Lucia, Antigua, St Kitts, Dominica, St Vincent, Anguilla, Montserrat), and runs a long-tenured Citizenship by Investment program. Visa rules: 90 days visa-free for the major source markets, with a notable post-Beryl rebuilding context for Carriacou-bound visitors.
Visa-free entry — 90 days for most
USA, Canada, UK, EU/EEA, Switzerland, Israel, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Latin America enter visa-free for 90 days. Required: passport valid 6 months past entry, return or onward ticket, accommodation address, sufficient funds. Travelers from outside the visa-free list need a Grenada tourist visa from a UK consulate — processed in 2–6 weeks.
Currency — XCD, USD, and the OECS shared peg
Local currency is the East Caribbean Dollar (XCD or EC$), pegged 1:2.70 to USD since 1976. USD is universally accepted: hotels, resorts, restaurants, taxis. EUR and GBP accepted at upscale spots but at unfavorable rates. ATMs dispense XCD by default. Tip in USD — 10% standard, 15% great service. Grenadian all-inclusive resorts (Sandals Grenada, Calabash Resort) include service in the rate.
Tourism levy and embarkation tax — in the ticket
The Grenada Tourism Tax (USD 14 / XCD 38) was bundled into airline tickets in 2018; nothing to pay at the airport. Departure tax: similarly bundled. There’s no separate environmental fee. The post-Beryl reconstruction levy (added 2024 for Carriacou rebuilding) is also bundled into the ticket — not a separate payment.
Citizenship by Investment — the second-passport reality
Grenada runs one of the longer-established Caribbean CIP programs (since 2014). Minimum donation: USD 150,000 to the National Transformation Fund (single applicant); USD 200,000 family of 4. Grenada’s passport offers visa-free access to ~140 destinations including UK and Schengen, plus — uniquely — the US E-2 Treaty Investor Visa eligibility (Grenada is one of the few Caribbean CIP countries with this US bilateral treaty). Roughly 600–1,000 applications approved per year.
2026 anchor — Hurricane Beryl 2024 was a Category 4 direct hit on Carriacou (Grenada’s sister island, 32 km north) on 1 July 2024 — the most damaging storm in the Eastern Caribbean since Maria 2017. Carriacou rebuilding continues into 2026, with most resorts reopened by late 2025. Mainland Grenada was largely spared. If your itinerary includes Carriacou, verify your accommodation is operational before booking.
🚚 3. Transport — GND to St George’s, Grand Anse & Carriacou Ferry
GND is at the southwestern tip of Grenada. St George’s (the capital, with the famous Carenage horseshoe-shaped harbor) is 8 km north; Grand Anse beach (the major beach for resort hotels) is 5 km north; Carriacou (the sister island) is 32 km north and accessed by ferry from St George’s pier or by SVG Air turboprop from GND. The Grand Etang National Park (rainforest interior) is 25 km central.
Taxi — regulated rates from the airport
Government-regulated rates: GND to St George’s 18–25 USD; GND to Grand Anse 12–18 USD; GND to True Blue Bay 18–25 USD; GND to Lance aux Epines (resort cluster) 18–25 USD; GND to Calabash Resort 22–30 USD; GND to Levera National Park (north tip) 90–110 USD. Drivers accept USD readily; many accept card via Sumup terminals.
Pre-booked private transfer — many resorts include
Sandals Grenada, Calabash Resort, Spice Island Beach Resort, True Blue Bay Resort, and most major resorts include or offer airport transfers. Cost USD 25–45 per person one-way for private; USD 18 per person for shared shuttle. Pre-book online; pay in USD on arrival. The convenience is the air-conditioned vehicle and the guaranteed availability vs first-come taxi rank.
Rental car — possible, mountainous interior
All major chains (Hertz, Avis, Budget) on-site at GND plus local outfits (Cool Breeze, Drive a Matic). Economy from 50 USD/day, mid-size SUV 70–90 USD. Driving on the LEFT (UK convention), all signage in English, fuel ~1.45 USD/litre. Insurance: bring credit-card CDW or buy at counter (15 USD/day extra). Mandatory: temporary Grenada driving permit (XCD 60 / USD 22) issued at the airport rental desk.
Ferry to Carriacou — Beryl reconstruction realities
Ferries to Carriacou (32 km north, Grenada’s sister island) depart from St George’s Carenage pier. The Osprey Express (the main ferry operator) runs 06:30 and 16:30 daily — 75 minutes to Hillsborough (Carriacou’s main town), USD 35 round-trip. SVG Air operates 25-minute Twin Otter flights from GND to Carriacou (CRU airport), USD 110 round-trip, 3 daily. Note: post-Beryl 2024 reconstruction continues into 2026; verify Carriacou accommodation is open and infrastructure functional before booking.
Practical — A typical Grenada trip is resort-based at Grand Anse, Lance aux Epines, or True Blue Bay: airport transfer to the resort, beach for 5 days, occasional taxi to St George’s Carenage and Grand Etang. You don’t need a rental car unless you want to do the Levera-Concord-River Sallee day trip. For Carriacou, the ferry is the better-priced option but the Twin Otter flight is faster.
🛍️ 4. Lounges — Plaza Premium & the Single-Lounge Reality
GND has one main pay/membership lounge (Plaza Premium) and an airline-operated business class waiting area for British Airways during the daily LGW push. By smaller-Caribbean-airport standards this is light — Hewanorra has two, Punta Cana has seven — but for a 90-minute pre-flight wait, it’s adequate. The lounge sits airside post-security on the upper concourse.
Plaza Premium Lounge — main option
Located airside on the upper concourse, near gate 2. Open 06:00–22:00 daily. Walk-in 32 USD for three hours; Priority Pass accepted (free for Pass holders); LoungeKey accepted; American Express Platinum and Centurion via Priority Pass enrollment. Capacity ~40. Hot breakfast 06:00–10:30, cold buffet rest of day, full bar with Clarke’s Court rum and Carib lager on tap, espresso machine, free Wi-Fi 25 Mbps, 3 showers.
BA Business Class waiting area — voucher-only
British Airways operates a small business-class waiting area airside near gate 1, opened around the daily 13:30 BA flight to LHR. Access exclusive to BA Club World passengers and BA Executive Club Gold/Silver elite on same-day BA departure. Smaller (~20 capacity), simple cold buffet, Heineken on tap, espresso. No showers. Closes 30 minutes before BA push.
Virgin Atlantic — Plaza Premium voucher
Virgin Atlantic does not operate a Clubhouse at GND. Virgin Upper Class passengers and Flying Club Gold elite get vouchers for Plaza Premium instead. Same applies to JetBlue Mint, Delta One, American Flagship business — all premium-cabin US passengers get Plaza Premium access via airline-paid voucher.
Showers, prayer rooms, smoking
Plaza Premium has 3 showers (free for users, 12 USD walk-in for non-users). One single-stall multi-faith prayer room landside near departures. No formal Christian chapel. Strict no-smoking inside the terminal; designated outdoor smoking areas outside arrivals doors and outside check-in entrance. Vaping rules same as cigarettes — outside only.
Lounge math — Priority Pass via credit card (Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum, Capital One Venture X) is the easiest no-airline route to Plaza Premium GND. One round-trip pays for half a year of the Priority Pass annual fee. For 90-minute or shorter waits, skip the lounge; the duty-free corridor seating works fine.
🥩 5. Food, Duty-Free & the Spice Isle Question
Airport food at GND is functional rather than memorable — you’ll eat better at any St George’s Carenage restaurant or any Grand Anse beach bar. But duty-free is genuinely interesting because Grenada is the Spice Isle: nutmeg (50% of world supply pre-Hurricane Ivan 2004), mace, cocoa, the Grenada Chocolate Company’s 75% bars, plus the local rum brands.
Spice Isle Cafe — the airside Caribbean kitchen
Located airside near gate 2. Local plates: oil down (Grenada national dish — salt-pork, breadfruit, callaloo, dumpling stew, 14 USD), pelau (rice with chicken or pigeon peas, 12 USD), callaloo (12 USD), stew chicken (14 USD), plantain chips (6 USD). Service efficient, plates substantial, kitchen open 06:00–21:00.
Carib Bar — the airside lager spot
Located airside near gates 3–4. Caribbean rum cocktails (12 USD), beers including Carib (the local) and Stag (Trinidadian, 8 USD), Clarke’s Court rum-based cocktails. Small sharing plates: jerk wings, callaloo fritters, plantain chips. Easy spot to wait the 45 minutes before boarding. Carib is the local flagship; Stag is the Trinidad equivalent.
Local plates worth flying for — if you have time
Oil down: salt-pork, breadfruit, callaloo (dasheen leaves), dumplings, all simmered together — the national dish. Pelau: one-pot rice dish with chicken or pigeon peas, often with caramelized sugar (the ‘burn’ technique). Callaloo soup: pureed dasheen-leaf soup. Stew chicken: brown-stewed chicken with rice. Roti: Indo-Caribbean wrap with curry filling. Available at Spice Isle Cafe but better at any St George’s Carenage restaurant. Worth a 15-minute taxi if your layover is 4+ hours.
Duty-free — spices, chocolate, rum
Three serious duty-free buys: (1) Grenada Chocolate Company 75% Cocoa Bar — USD 5–8 per 70g bar, the small-batch single-estate chocolate with 75% cocoa from organic Grenada farms; (2) Whole nutmeg and mace — USD 5–12 per 100g pouch, genuinely fresher than US specialty stores; (3) Clarke’s Court rum — USD 22–48 per 700ml, the local flagship distillery (8-year, Special Dark, Pure White Rum). Cigars: Dominican, 8–25 USD per stick.
Eat-and-fly — Don’t leave GND without one Carib lager, one plate of oil down, and at least one Grenada Chocolate Company 75% bar. The lager and oil down are your last Grenadian tastes; the chocolate is genuinely something you can’t find at home unless you’re in a specialty shop willing to charge USD 12–15 for the same bar.
💡 6. Insider Tips — Carriacou, Grand Etang & Beryl Reality
Most first-time visitors stay at one of the Grand Anse resort cluster (Sandals Grenada, Spice Island Beach Resort, True Blue Bay, Calabash Resort) and never set foot on Carriacou or hike Grand Etang. That’s the safe play. The other Grenada — the Underwater Sculpture Park at Molinière Bay, the Grand Etang rainforest, the still-recovering Carriacou and Petit Martinique — sits 30–90 minutes from GND and is what makes Grenada distinctive in the Caribbean. Here’s what locals plan around.
Hurricane Beryl 2024 — what changed for Carriacou
Hurricane Beryl made landfall as a Category 4 storm on 1 July 2024 directly over Carriacou. Damage was severe: nearly 95% of structures damaged or destroyed, all 6 resorts non-operational for 6–12 months, Hillsborough (the main town) without electricity for 8 weeks. Reconstruction continues into 2026 with most major resorts back online by mid-2025. Mainland Grenada was largely spared the direct impact — Beryl passed north before swinging through. If your itinerary includes Carriacou, verify your accommodation is operational before booking.
Spirit Airlines collapsed — route reality
Spirit’s shutdown in May 2026 had limited impact on Grenada because Spirit operated only seasonal Fort Lauderdale-GND. JetBlue picked up FLL-GND (2x weekly), and American expanded MIA-GND to 5x weekly from 4x. Caribbean Airlines maintains POS-GND and BGI-GND connections. If your booking shows Spirit, the ticket has been refunded or rebooked.
Underwater Sculpture Park — the unique attraction
Grenada hosts the world’s first underwater sculpture park — Jason deCaires Taylor’s 65+ concrete sculptures placed at Molinière Bay, 25 metres below the surface. Accessible by snorkel (15-foot depth) or full SCUBA. Operators: Aquanauts Grenada, Eco-Dive, Native Spirit Scuba. Half-day snorkel trip USD 80–110; two-tank dive USD 110–140. Best season December-May (calmer water visibility). Worth the trip even if you’re not a serious diver.
Grand Etang National Park — the rainforest interior
Grand Etang Lake (a volcanic crater lake at 530m elevation) is the centerpiece of Grand Etang National Park. The park includes Mona monkey populations, the Annandale and Concord waterfalls, and the cross-island highway connecting St George’s to St Andrew’s on the east coast. Entry fee USD 6 per adult. Drive 30 minutes from GND. Hiking trails range from 30-minute easy loops to 4-hour Mt Qua Qua summit climbs.
The honest comparison — Grenada versus St Lucia versus Antigua: Grenada wins on uniqueness (the Spice Isle reality, the Underwater Sculpture Park, the rainforest interior), wins on visa-free duration (90 days vs Antigua’s 6 months but still generous), and wins on chocolate-and-spice export quality. St Lucia wins on landscape drama (Pitons, drive-in volcano). Antigua wins on beach diversity (the 365 claim). For a culturally-distinctive Caribbean trip with rainforest plus beach, Grenada is the answer.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Eight questions Grenada first-timers ask most often, with current 2026 information.
Do I need a visa to visit Grenada?
If you hold a US, Canadian, UK, EU/EEA, Swiss, Israeli, Japanese, Singaporean, South Korean, Australian, New Zealand, or major Latin American passport, you enter visa-free for 90 days. Required: passport valid 6 months past entry, return or onward ticket, accommodation address, sufficient funds. Travelers from outside the visa-free list need a Grenada tourist visa from the nearest UK consulate or High Commission — processed in 2–6 weeks.
What currency does Grenada use?
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD or EC$) is the official currency, pegged 1:2.70 to USD since 1976. The same currency is shared with St Lucia, Antigua, St Kitts, Dominica, St Vincent, Anguilla, and Montserrat. USD is universally accepted at hotels, resorts, restaurants, taxis. EUR and GBP accepted at upscale spots but at unfavorable rates. ATMs dispense XCD by default; tip in USD — 10% standard.
Is Grenada safe to visit after Hurricane Beryl 2024?
Mainland Grenada (the main island including St George’s, Grand Anse, GND airport) was largely spared by Hurricane Beryl 2024. The Category 4 direct hit was on Carriacou, Grenada’s sister island 32 km north. Carriacou reconstruction continues into 2026 — major resorts reopened by January 2026, but smaller properties may still be limited. If your itinerary includes Carriacou, verify your accommodation is operational. Mainland Grenada is fully operational and safe to visit.
How do I get from GND airport to my Grand Anse resort?
Three options: (1) Pre-booked private transfer included with most resorts (Sandals Grenada, Spice Island Beach Resort, True Blue Bay, Calabash Resort) — verify before paying separately; (2) Taxi from the airport rank — regulated rates 12–30 USD to Grand Anse and southern resort cluster; (3) Rental car — possible but rarely necessary for resort-based stays. Uber and Lyft do not operate in Grenada.
Are Uber and Lyft available in Grenada?
No. Rideshare apps do not operate in Grenada. Use the regulated taxi system (rate sheets posted at the rank), pre-booked private transfer (Cool Breeze, Drive a Matic), or rent a car. Most resorts include or offer airport transfers in package bookings — verify before paying separately. The local equivalent for inter-island travel is the Osprey Express ferry to Carriacou plus the SVG Air Twin Otter network.
Is US preclearance available at GND?
No. Unlike Aruba, the Bahamas, and Bermuda, Grenada does not have US Customs and Border Protection preclearance. You clear US immigration on arrival at your US gateway (Miami, JFK, Atlanta, Charlotte, Boston). Build at least 2.5 hours connection time at MIA, JFK, or ATL on busy weekends — the legal-connection estimate on booking sites does not account for international-arrival queues. Global Entry helps significantly.
Can I visit Carriacou from Grenada?
Yes — via Osprey Express ferry from St George’s Carenage pier (USD 35 round-trip, 75 minutes to Hillsborough on Carriacou) or via SVG Air Twin Otter from GND (USD 110 round-trip, 25 minutes). Note: Hurricane Beryl 2024 caused major damage to Carriacou; reconstruction continues into 2026. Major resorts (Bogles Round House, Carriacou Grand Hotel) reopened January 2026. Smaller properties may still be limited — verify before booking.
What’s the difference between Grenada and Trinidad?
Grenada (Spice Isle): 344 sq km, OECS member, English plus Grenadian Creole, Caribbean Sea-only. Trinidad and Tobago: 5,131 sq km (much larger), CARICOM not OECS, Trinidad Spanish-influenced + Tobago more typical Caribbean, Trinidad Indo-Caribbean culture is unique. Trinidad has Carnival (best in the Caribbean), oil-and-gas economy. Grenada is more focused tourism. The two are connected by Caribbean Airlines daily 1-hour flight (POS-GND) for combo trips.
2026 Summary Data Table
The full 2026 reference table for Maurice Bishop International Airport at a glance.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| IATA / ICAO | GND / TGPY |
| Country | Grenada (with Carriacou and Petit Martinique) — CARICOM and OECS member |
| Capital city | St George’s — 8 km from airport |
| Airport renaming | 2009 — renamed from Point Salines to Maurice Bishop International |
| Annual passengers (2024) | ~640,000 |
| Single runway | 10/28 — 2,743 m (9,000 ft) |
| Major airlines (2026) | BA, Virgin Atlantic, JetBlue, American, Air Canada, Caribbean Airlines, LIAT 2020 |
| Currency | Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD) at 2.70/USD — USD universal |
| Languages | English (official), Grenadian Creole English |
| Visa-free entry | USA, Canada, EU/UK, most LatAm — 90 days |
| Tourism levy | USD 14 / XCD 38 — included in airline ticket since 2018 |
| US preclearance | No |
| Hurricane Beryl 2024 | Carriacou direct hit (Cat 4); mainland Grenada spared |
| Plaza Premium lounge | Yes — Priority Pass accepted, walk-in 32 USD |
| Driving side | LEFT (UK convention) |
| Citizenship by Investment | Yes — minimum USD 150,000 donation, with US E-2 Treaty Investor eligibility |
| Underwater Sculpture Park | Molinière Bay — world’s first, 65+ sculptures |
This guide is current as of May 2026 and reflects the post-Beryl-2024 Carriacou reconstruction status, the post-Spirit-collapse North American route map (JetBlue absorbed FLL-GND, American expanded MIA-GND), and the ongoing limited recovery on Grenada’s sister islands. For weekly route updates and Grenada flight deals, follow our aifly.one main feed.
