Providenciales International Airport (PLS)

Aerial view of the airport.

You may also be interested in International Flights to the Turks and Caicos Islands, Passports and Visas, Customs Allowances and Getting Around Providenciales.

IATA Code: PLS, ICAO Code: MBPV

All international flights to the Turks and Caicos Islands arrive at the Providenciales International Airport, a small one terminal building with one 9,199 foot (2,804 metre) runway.

Check-in Times

Most airlines recommend at least 2 hours before international flights. For domestic flights, 45 minutes is sufficient.

The bulk of international passengers arrive 2 hours before departure. If you arrive 10-15 minutes before this, the lines will be significantly shorter.

Saturday and Sunday Flights

You should give yourself additional time to check-in on Saturday and Sunday. There is a high number of flights on these days and this can lead to delays in check-in and security.

Terminal Facilities

There is one departure lounge each for international and domestic flights. The international lounge can become crowded at times, but plans are underway for expansion.

Automated check-in kiosks are available for the major airlines.

Before the security checkpoint, there are resin copies of the stones from the Sapodilla Bay Hill Rock Carvings.

Internet

The departure lounge is covered by a complimentary LIME WiFi hot spot. Unfortunately, the connection is rarely functional.

Shopping and Eating

Before the security checkpoint, there is a gift shop and a Gilley's restaurant. After the security checkpoint is a bar, a duty-free jewelry shop, and three gift stores.

Currency Exchange

There is no Bureau de Change at the airport. You are advised to exchange currency before you arrive. Currency can be exchanged at local banks, but the fees are exorbitant and queues can be over an hour for service.

Ground Transportation and Taxis

Taxis and cars (both private and rental) are the only forms of ground transportation from the airport.

Taxis are available directly outside the baggage claim area. We advise you to confirm your fare (total for all passengers) before setting off. There are fixed fares as set in the ordinance (and often posted by other information sources), but these are not always respected.

We recommend that most visitors rent a car because of the lack of public transportation. Find out more at Getting Around Providenciales. See our Providenciales Taxis for more information on taxis fares, stands and availability.

Immigration and Customs

You'll need to clear immigration and collect your baggage before proceeding through customs. Unlike in some other Caribbean airports (such as Nassau), there are no pre-clearance facilities operated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for U.S. Nationals returning home.

Parking

Parking fees are on par with major international airports such as London Heathrow and Miami International Airprort. It is illegal to leave cars unattended at the curbside.

The small car park is located a short distance from the terminal, which does become full at times. As usual, don't leave any valuables in your car as there isn't security personnel at the car park.

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