Which aircraft can land where
The practical consequence: build the itinerary around one or two full-capability gateways — St Maarten, Antigua, Barbados or Providenciales — and use a turboprop or light jet for the final leg into the small-runway islands. Trying to force a heavy jet into St Barths or Mustique is not a pricing question; it is not possible.
| Island | Airport | Largest practical aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| St Barths | SBH | Turboprop only (PC-12, King Air) |
| Anguilla | AXA | Light jet |
| St Maarten | SXM | Any category incl. ultra-long-range |
| Antigua | ANU | Any category |
| Barbados | BGI | Any category |
| Mustique | MQS | Turboprop only |
| Tortola (BVI) | EIS | Turboprop / small light jet |
| Nevis | NEV | Turboprop / light jet |
| Turks & Caicos | PLS | Any category |
Typical hop times and pricing
| Hop | Aircraft | Time | Indicative one-way |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Maarten – St Barths | Turboprop | 12 min | $2,200 – $3,400 |
| Antigua – Barbados | Light jet | 45 min | $8,500 – $12,000 |
| Barbados – St Lucia | Light jet | 30 min | $7,000 – $9,500 |
| San Juan – Tortola | Turboprop | 30 min | $3,200 – $5,000 |
| Miami – Providenciales | Midsize | 1h 45m | $19,000 – $25,000 |
Planning a multi-island week
- —Fix the small-runway island first — it constrains the whole aircraft plan
- —Keep the long-haul jet at a gateway and hop on a turboprop rather than repositioning a heavy jet daily
- —Immigration is separate on almost every island; carry passports for every hop
- —Most small-island fields are daylight-only — schedule the last hop of each day with sunset margin
- —Peak season is mid-December to mid-April; New Year in St Barths needs ten to twelve weeks of lead time
Booking with the Limitless Sky desk
Limitless Sky is an independent charter broker. We hold no fleet, so we quote the whole market and sequence the jet, the FBO slot, the helicopter or car transfer and the arrival window as one itinerary. Quotes are all-inclusive — aircraft, crew, fuel, handling, landing and parking — and are returned within 10 minutes, 24/7.
Peak-event slots and parking are the real constraint, not aircraft availability. Book the slot first and the aircraft second; that is the single decision that separates a smooth arrival from a three-hour diversion.
FAQ
Frequently asked
Can any private jet land in St Barths?
No. St Barths (SBH) has a very short runway with a steep approach and accepts turboprops such as the PC-12 and King Air only. Jets land at St Maarten and connect on a 12-minute hop.
What does island hopping by private jet cost in the Caribbean?
Short hops are modest: St Maarten–St Barths turboprop $2,200–$3,400, Antigua–Barbados light jet $8,500–$12,000, San Juan–Tortola turboprop $3,200–$5,000 one way.
Which Caribbean airports take heavy jets?
St Maarten, Antigua, Barbados, Providenciales and San Juan handle any category including ultra-long-range. Most other islands are limited to light jets or turboprops.
Do I need a passport for inter-island flights?
Yes. Almost every Caribbean island is a separate immigration jurisdiction, including hops of under 15 minutes.
How far ahead should I book a Caribbean island-hopping week?
Eight weeks in normal peak season and ten to twelve weeks for Christmas and New Year, particularly if St Barths or Mustique is on the itinerary.