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Projects •Aviation lifelines for small islands

Aviation lifelines for small islands.

Multiple countries

Aéroport De Bora Bora 3 Fenua Airports MATARAI.JPG

Building resilience for remote communities everywhere.

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Clients

20 remote islands and hard-to-reach territories, from Anguilla to Zanzibar, from the Falkland Islands and Scotland's Highlands and Islands to Samoa and beyond.

Timeline

2002 – ongoing.

Benefits

In small islands where tourism dominates GDP, disruptions to air transport materially affect growth and resilience, justifying major investments in runway, drainage, airspace and air traffic management upgrades.

By 2043, air transport and the tourism it facilitates will support over 4 million jobs in small island states.

42countries

classified as Small States by the World Bank – ie. with a population of 1.5 million or less.

1/3vulnerable

to natural disasters and climate change, including rising sea levels and droughts, and all are more vulnerable to economic shocks.

2 millionjobs

in small island states supported by air transport, representing over 12% of GDP in those countries in 2023.

The challenge.

Communities under pressure.

From the North and South Atlantic to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Caribbean to the South China seas, small islands face a distinct blend of operational, environmental, economic, and infrastructural challenges: geographic isolation, limited land area, fragile coastlines, and exposure to extreme weather. As small land-based or tourism economies, they can also struggle to finance the development and maintenance of safe and reliable access by sea and air.

Those challenges are mirrored in small island airports. The needs range from building essential infrastructure for the future to maintaining what they have today or responding to unexpected events. The issues they face can also be complex, especially given the need to comply with international standards.

Typical problems include remote logistics and shipping delays, procurement difficulties, workforce constraints, a lack of access to specialist technical expertise, high-exposure environments, donor oversight requirements and the practical aspects of keeping communities at the centre of the planning and delivery process.

Imagine.

Improved connectivity. Right-sized systems.

Our teams have delivered infrastructure rehabilitation and modernisation for many island nations and overseas territories, including runway resurfacing programmes such as SIRAP2 in the Solomon Islands and CATCOP in Saint Lucia, and CNS/ATM modernisation initiatives for Cape Verde and Iceland. We’ve tackled airfield lighting upgrades, coastal protection schemes and technical design reviews. We have also led air traffic management equipment and airspace modernisation initiatives, including surveillance‑based ATM transition planning for the Cayman Islands and GNSS procedure implementation at Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport in Anguilla, supporting island nations as they transition to surveillance‑based operations and satellite-based procedures.

Small islands need solutions that are technically compliant and practical. Right‑sizing is therefore essential: choosing systems that meet operational needs, withstand coastal environments, and can be supported by local teams. This can influence everything from material selection, such as using locally sourced timber where it performs better, to how we structure procurement criteria.

In the Solomon Islands and Samoa, we adopted a partnership model that blends global expertise with local skills. Egis teams lead technical design and site visits and then hand over to local contractors for supervised construction. Installation and commissioning activities include structured training aligned with World Bank and Asian Development Bank requirements and cover topics such as equipment maintenance, workplace safety, gender equality and broader operational standards.

These initiatives build capability, strengthen local organisations and support long‑term self‑sufficiency. Right-sizing can also be ‘smart’ and future-focused, such as the SATE drone‑integration test environment in the Orkney Islands and the ATM resilience and drone study in Guernsey. Working with specialist partners, we have introduced sustainable innovations, including test environments for low‑carbon technologies, drone‑enabled logistics for remote communities, uncrewed aircraft integration, and the development of renewable‑energy airport infrastructure.

Together, these capabilities have enabled island airports and air services to operate more safely, efficiently and sustainably in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

Create.

People-centred planning.

Our work in climate resilience and disaster recovery, including post‑hurricane recovery support in Anguilla and coastal protection works delivered through SIRAP2 in the Solomon Islands, has helped airports to withstand the effects of cyclones, sea‑level rise and extreme weather and has triggered long‑term adaptation planning.

Communities are at the heart of it. That’s why we prioritise meeting local people, listening to their concerns and ambitions, and integrating those views to deliver pragmatic and compliant solutions.

Our advisory and master planning services help governments future‑proof decisions, from community‑led airport visioning to feasibility and master planning studies for St Kitts and Batam Airport. With our help, governments have optimised constrained airport footprints, explored alternative scenarios, examined the feasibility of different options, and kept communities on board.

World Bank projects place strong emphasis on environmental and social performance. As part of the design phase, we update Environmental and Social Management Plans and apply the Bank’s framework to demonstrate how proposed works may affect local environments, how people are consulted, and how regulatory constraints guide design.

In Samoa, for example, equipment siting options for the SARIP programme involved assessing vegetation, land ownership and safety‑area radii, and working with the Airport Authority to support appropriate land acquisition and compensation activities. With aviation recognised as critical infrastructure, government and community support for the project was strong. This alignment enabled climate‑resilient upgrades that are environmentally responsible, socially considerate and operationally robust.

Achieve.

Better connected communities.

Many of the airports we support are located on remote islands or in geographically isolated regions where aviation is the primary link to essential services, trade and tourism. Here are some examples of our work around the world.

AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE & ENGINEERING

Runway rehabilitation, airfield lighting, utilities, terminal design and major capital works.

Comoros – Moroni runway rehabilitation study
Preparatory studies and urgent repair works for a nationally critical runway upgrade.
Fiji – Nadi 2030 Airport programme
Building services and utility design supporting delivery of the airport’s Master Plan vision.
Guadeloupe – Pointe‑à‑Pitre Airport infrastructure engineering
Long‑term technical assistance covering aeronautical infrastructure, terminals, utilities and landside development.
Island Archipelago – Airport master plan (Architecture)
People‑focused, responsible and inventive design master plan for a major tourist destination.
Saint Lucia – Hewanorra International Airport runway rehabilitation
Detailed design focused on resilience, sustainability and compliance with international standards
Solomon Islands – SIRAP2 (World Bank)
Runway resurfacing, airfield lighting upgrades and coastal protection works at Honiara, Munda and Santa Cruz Airports; ATC tower design by Egis’ 10Design.

AIRPORT OPERATIONS & MANAGEMENT

Operational efficiency and governance, capacity building, strengthening regulatory capability and safety management systems.

Kiribati – International airports management support
Two‑year programme strengthening operational efficiency, safety, financial sustainability and governance at Bonriki and Cassidy Airports, including training of the airport management team.
Maldives – CAA technical training services
Specialist training in SMS, SSP, technical auditing and incident investigation to enhance national oversight capability.
Tahiti – Airport operator, under a concession agreement
Concession holder since 2010 for Tahiti Faa’a Airport, and since 2025 for Bora Bora, Raiatea and Rangiroa Airports. Supporting all aspects of the airport operations in a growing economy.
Zanzibar – AAKIA Technical services agreement
Ongoing operational and technical support delivering customised and effective airport management services.

AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT (ATM) MODERNISATION

Upgrades to CNS/ATM systems, surveillance transitions, and strategic ATM planning.

Cape Verde – ATM master plan & system procurement
Long‑term ATM strategy, traffic forecasting, airspace planning and tender development for a new national ATM system.
Cayman Islands – Surveillance‑based ATM transition
Two‑year programme shifting ATM services from procedural to surveillance‑based operations, including safety case development and transition strategy
Iceland – ATM system strategy & procurement support
Hybrid‑system design, market engagement and full procurement support for a new ATM system.
Samoa – SARIP (World Bank)
Replacement of ageing ILS and DVOR systems at Faleolo International Airport, improving safety and operational reliability.

AIRSPACE & PROCEDURE DESIGN

Expertise in GNSS procedures, airspace redesign, and integration of new entrants.

Anguilla – GNSS instrument approach procedure
Rapid post‑hurricane implementation of a GNSS IAP restoring all‑weather and night‑time operations.
Guernsey – ATM resilience & drone integration study
Assessment of ATM resilience and airspace redesign to improve interfaces with UK and France, including drone integration.
Scotland (Orkney) – SATE BVLOS test environment
Concept of operations and preliminary airspace design enabling safe BVLOS drone trials in unsegregated airspace.

STRATEGIC PLANNING, MASTER PLANNING & FEASIBILITY

Long‑term visioning, master planning, PPP advisory and commercial/operational reviews.

Batam – Hang Nadim Airport PPP (Indonesia)
Master plan development, CAPEX/OPEX strategy, conceptual terminal design and technical inputs to the financial model.
Falkland Islands – FIGAS commercial & operational review
Comprehensive review identifying improvement opportunities for the national air service.
St Kitts – Airport feasibility & master plan
Infrastructure optimisation within a constrained footprint and identification of non‑aeronautical revenue opportunities.

Our globally based experts help island communities strengthen the resilience, performance and long‑term viability of their aviation systems. From community engagement and master planning, through infrastructure upgrades and innovation testbeds, our work provides targeted support to preserve and enhance these lifeline services.

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