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How to get to Saint-Barth: flights, ferry and private jet

Flights, ferry and private jet: the complete guide to reaching Saint-Barthélemy in 2026, updated following the closure of Air Antilles.

By Sun Beach House

Comment venir à Saint-Barth : vols, ferry et jet privé

Your first impression of Saint-Barthélemy begins long before you set foot on the island. It begins the moment your plane crests the hill above Saint-Jean — a few meters from the road below, a few seconds from touching down on a 640-meter runway wedged between the sea and the hills. For many visitors, that approach remains one of the most memorable moments of their stay.

Saint-Barth is an island you arrive at, not simply land on. This logistical challenge is also a natural filter: it keeps the island to a human scale, preserves its discreet character, and ensures that those who come have genuinely chosen to do so. In 2025, 232,535 passengers transited through Saint-Barth Airport — a 14.2% increase on the previous year[1] — and yet the runway itself has not changed.

This guide covers the real options available in 2026 — including the latest changes to regional air service, notably the permanent closure of Air Antilles in April 2026 — and gives you the practical information you need to plan your journey.

Gustaf III / Rémy-de-Haenen Airport: what you need to know

Saint-Barthélemy's airport carries two names. Gustaf III honors the Swedish king during whose reign France ceded the island to the Swedish crown in 1784[4]. Rémy-de-Haenen pays tribute to the pioneering pilot who had the runway built in the mid-twentieth century and played a decisive role in opening the island to the outside world[4].

Its single runway is 640 meters long, making it one of the shortest in the Caribbean[4]. The approach is unique: aircraft must fly at very low altitude over a hill and a busy road before dropping onto a runway that ends almost at the beach. Pilots who operate at SBH require special certification[5]. The runway has no lighting, so night operations are impossible.

The direct consequence for travelers: only small turboprop aircraft are permitted at Saint-Barth. The most common types are the DHC-6 Twin Otter (19 seats, Winair), the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (9–12 seats, St Barth Commuter) and the Pilatus PC-12 (up to 9 seats, Tradewind Aviation, Air Inter Iles)[4]. There are no direct flights from Paris, New York or Miami to SBH: every traveler must connect through a neighboring island.

Flights to Saint-Barth: airlines and connection hubs

From Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin (SXM and SFG)

Princess Juliana Airport (SXM), on the Dutch side of Saint-Martin, is the primary international gateway for Saint-Barth. Around 22 airlines operate direct services to SXM from the United States, Canada, Europe and the wider Caribbean[17]. Most travelers from Europe connect here, typically via Air France or KLM through Amsterdam.

From SXM, two regional airlines run shuttle services to SBH — a 10-to-15-minute flight:

  • Winair (IATA code: WM), the long-standing interisland carrier of the Lesser Antilles, operates several daily rotations between SXM and SBH aboard Twin Otter aircraft[17]. Tickets are bookable directly at winair.sx.
  • St Barth Commuter, founded in 1994 and based on the island, runs around 32 rotations per week from SXM using Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft[9]. It also serves Grand-Case Airport (SFG) on the French side of Saint-Martin.

From San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)

For travelers arriving from the United States, San Juan offers a direct alternative to Sint Maarten. Tradewind Aviation operates up to 9 flights per day between SJU and SBH aboard a Pilatus PC-12 — a Swiss-built pressurized turboprop flown by two pilots[6]. The flight takes approximately 50 minutes. The airline also serves Antigua (ANU), making it a practical option for transatlantic travelers arriving via British Airways.

From Guadeloupe (PTP)

The Guadeloupe–Saint-Barth route (approximately 50 minutes) is of particular interest to travelers from metropolitan France, where Air France and Corsair operate direct flights from Paris to Pointe-à-Pitre. Two airlines currently serve this connection:

  • St Barth Commuter operates scheduled flights from PTP[9].
  • Air Inter Iles (by St Barth Executive) stepped in following the court-ordered liquidation of Air Antilles on 27 April 2026[10][11]. The airline operates Tecnam P2012 STOL and Pilatus PC-12 NGX aircraft[7]. Since 15 December 2024, a partnership with Corsair allows passengers arriving in Pointe-à-Pitre to continue to Saint-Barth on a direct connection[8].

Other direct links

Cape Air operates a twice-daily service between Saint Thomas (STT, US Virgin Islands) and SBH, launched on 13 October 2025[12]. Anguilla Air Services connects Anguilla (AXA) to SBH in about 15 minutes, with 12 flights per week[9].

Coming by ferry from Saint-Martin

The ferry is an often-overlooked option — and one of the most practical, especially for travelers with bulky luggage, sports equipment or young children. In 2025, Gustavia's port handled 128,858 ferry arrivals between January and September, with a peak of 24,445 passengers in March alone[2].

Two main operators cover the route:

Operator Departure port Crossing time Indicative price Frequency
Great Bay Express Philipsburg (Sint Maarten, Dutch side) ~45 min From €60 Up to 3 crossings/day
Voyager Marigot (Saint-Martin, French side) ~60 min From €79 Up to 3 crossings/day in high season

Between them, the two operators run around 43 crossings per week[13]. You arrive directly at the Gustavia quay, steps from the town center.

Practical notes: arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure for check-in and baggage drop. In high season (December–March), book in advance — crossings over Christmas and New Year fill up days ahead. The channel between Saint-Martin and Saint-Barth can be rough: if you are susceptible to seasickness, take preventive medication before boarding. Prices listed are indicative and subject to change; check each operator's website for current fares.

Private jets and charter flights

Saint-Barth is accessible by private jet or charter, provided the aircraft is compatible with the 640-meter runway. No standard commercial jet can land at SBH. Suitable types include the Pilatus PC-12 NGX, the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan and the Britten-Norman Islander[16].

Two scenarios apply: charter a turboprop directly to SBH from a nearby hub (SXM, SJU, ANU, PTP), or take a private jet to Sint Maarten — where the 2,300-meter runway accommodates all aircraft types — then complete the journey by turboprop shuttle (15 minutes). The cost of a turboprop charter from SXM or SJU is approximately USD 2,000 per flight hour, as an indicative figure[16].

Specialized operators include St Barth Commuter (charter division), Air Inter Iles by St Barth Executive, Tradewind Aviation, and international brokers such as PrivateFly and BLADE from New York[16]. Demand is particularly high during peak season — Bucket Regatta, Christmas, New Year — when scheduled interisland flights are fully booked.

Which hub to use, by departure city

From Recommended hub Airline(s) to SBH Approximate total journey
Paris CDG Pointe-à-Pitre (PTP) Air Inter Iles or St Barth Commuter ~10–12 hours
Paris CDG Sint Maarten (SXM) via Amsterdam Winair or St Barth Commuter ~11–13 hours
New York JFK San Juan (SJU) Tradewind Aviation ~5–7 hours
New York JFK Sint Maarten (SXM) Winair ~5–7 hours
Miami MIA Sint Maarten (SXM) or San Juan (SJU) Winair / Tradewind ~4–6 hours
Geneva GVA Sint Maarten (SXM) via Amsterdam Winair or St Barth Commuter ~13–15 hours

Times include connections but not any overnight stops that may be needed if you arrive late at a hub. For travelers from France, an overnight in Guadeloupe or Saint-Martin is often the most relaxed approach.

Frequently asked questions

Can I travel from Paris to Saint-Barth in a single day?

In theory, yes — if connections align. An early-morning flight from Paris CDG to Pointe-à-Pitre, followed by an immediate onward flight to SBH, can get you there by early evening. In practice, delays and short layovers make this scenario fragile. Building in an overnight stop in Guadeloupe or Saint-Martin is the more relaxed approach.

Can I bring bulky luggage — large suitcases, kitesurf equipment, golf clubs?

Interisland aircraft have small cargo holds. Winair and St Barth Commuter generally allow one checked bag and one cabin bag, but oversized items may be subject to surcharges or declined. The ferry is significantly more accommodating for heavy or bulky luggage.

How far in advance should I book interisland flights?

In low season (May–October), seats are often available at short notice. In high season — particularly around Christmas, New Year and major sailing events — booking two to three months ahead is advisable to secure your preferred flight times.

Are there night flights to Saint-Barth?

No. Gustaf III Airport has no runway lighting, and all flights operate during daylight hours. If your international flight arrives at SXM, SJU or PTP late in the evening, an overnight stop will be necessary before your connection to SBH.

Our recommendation

Getting to Saint-Barth takes a little planning — but it is also part of the experience. That final approach, banking low over the hill, is something you will remember long after the flight. At Sun Beach House, we help our clients with every logistical detail: coordinating interisland flights, recommending transit options, and arranging travel and transfer concierge services from SBH Airport to your villa.

To prepare your stay, read our Saint-Barth high season guide or our 5 questions to ask before booking a villa. Browse our villa collection to find the right property for your next stay on the island.

  1. Le Journal de Saint-Barth — "Aéroport : une hausse de 14,2 % du nombre de passagers en 2025" — journaldesaintbarth.com — 09/01/2026 — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  2. Le Journal de Saint-Barth — "Trafic portuaire : neuf mois intenses en 2025" — journaldesaintbarth.com — 13/11/2025 — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  3. La 1ère / France Info — "Saint-Barthélemy : Forte hausse du trafic aérien en 2025" — la1ere.franceinfo.fr — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  4. Gustaf III Airport — Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustaf_III_Airport — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  5. AOPA — "Challenges: The Hill" — aopa.org — June 2024 — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  6. Tradewind Aviation — flytradewind.com/destination/st-barths/ — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  7. Air Inter Iles — airinteriles.com/en/destinations/saint-barthelemy — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  8. St Barth Executive — stbarthexecutive.com (Corsair partnership, December 2024) — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  9. St Barth Commuter — stbarthcommuter.com/en/scheduled-flights.php — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  10. AirlineGeeks — "Air Antilles to Enter Liquidation" — airlinegeeks.com — 29/04/2026 — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  11. Caribbean Journal — "The Collapse of Air Antilles" — caribjournal.com — 10/05/2026 — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  12. Cape Air / Recommend.com — STT–SBH launch — October 2025 — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  13. About-SXM — about-sxm.com/bateau-saint-martin-saint-barthelemy/ — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  14. NetFerry — netferry.com/ferry-operators/great-bay-express — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  15. DirectFerries / About-SXM — Voyager ferry — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  16. Air Charter Advisors — aircharteradvisors.com/private-jet-charter/st-barts/ — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩
  17. Saint-Barths.com — st-barths.com/en/winair-scheduled-flights-to-st-barts — accessed 06/08/2026 ↩