The airport has won approval from travellers who voted it best in class for its size in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

The LF Wade International Airport took the accolade at the annual Airports Council International world airport service quality awards, in the category of airports with two million or fewer passengers a year.

Passengers voted on the terminal in more than 30 categories, including facilities, cleanliness and ambience, security, check-in and overall satisfaction.

It also topped the poll for best hygiene measures of any airport in the region.

Health and hygiene got added to the traveller survey questionnaire in 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

Aaron Adderley, the president of airport operators Skyport, said there had been several hurdles to completion of the new terminal in 2020, with “none perhaps greater” than the pandemic.

He added: “To now have that accomplishment recognised and appreciated on an international stage by travellers is incredibly rewarding and is a testament to all of the agencies and service providers who make up LF Wade International.”

Luis Felipe de Oliveira, the ACI director-general, said the surveys and awards led to “continual learning and improvement” in customer service.

He explained: “As the industry recovers, continuing to listen and adapt to travellers will be absolutely crucial to strengthening airports’ competitive advantage, non-aeronautical revenue, and ensuring the sustained recovery of the entire aviation ecosystem.“

A spokeswoman for Skyport said: “These prestigious industry awards are even more rewarding considering the impact of the pandemic on available investment and the supply and cost of goods and materials, which has somewhat limited the ability of Skyport and airport concessionaires to make available all the services and amenities that were originally planned to be on offer upon opening.”

But she added that airport officials were optimistic that, with a return to normal travel, the airport’s concessions would have “their full suite of services and amenities on offer”.

More than 370,000 passenger surveys were conducted in 2021 to gather information for the awards.

There were 111 awards for 88 airports around the world.