Caribbean · Best season: Dec-Apr
St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
365 beaches and sailing heritage
Antigua is a refined Caribbean private-aviation destination, famed for its 365 beaches, English Harbour sailing heritage, and exclusive enclaves like Jumby Bay and the resorts of the northwest coast. The winter high season brings heavy and midsize jets carrying British and North American leisure travelers, sailing crowds, and villa owners, with peaks over the holidays and around the spring Sailing Week and Classic Yacht regattas. Passengers skew European and US families, yacht owners, and repeat villa guests. Demand is strongest from December through April, and the island also serves as a regional gateway for onward hops to Barbuda and nearby islands.
V. C. Bird International Airport (ANU) sits about eight kilometres northeast of St. John's, with a single runway around 2,750 metres that handles heavy and most ultra-long-range jets arriving from Europe and North America. A dedicated FBO handles customs, immigration, and hangarage, with parking pressure over the holidays. The flat coastal terrain and steady trade winds keep operations reliable, with attention to summer tropical weather, and St. Kitts (SKB/TKPK) and Guadeloupe (PTP/TFFR) as regional alternates. The transfer to English Harbour and the main resorts runs about 20 to 40 minutes by car, with onward light-aircraft and boat transfers to Jumby Bay and Barbuda.
- Primary Airport
- V. C. Bird International (ANU)
- Alternate Airports
- St. Kitts (SKB), Guadeloupe (PTP)
- Best Season
- Dec-Apr
- Transfer
- 20-40 min drive to English Harbour
Popular routes
- London -> St. John's
- Miami -> St. John's
- New York -> St. John's
- Barbados -> St. John's
- Toronto -> St. John's
Typical charter cost to St. John's
One-way estimates including a segment fee; actual quotes vary with dates and positioning.
| From | Light jet | Super-mid | Heavy jet |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York (Teterboro)1684 nm | $18k–$30k | $25k–$36k | $34k–$60k |
| Los Angeles (Van Nuys)3447 nm | $34k–$56k | $45k–$68k | $63k–$113k |
| Dallas (Love Field)2283 nm | $24k–$39k | $32k–$47k | $44k–$78k |
| Palm Beach1261 nm | $15k–$23k | $20k–$29k | $28k–$47k |
When to fly
Peak season in St. John's is Dec-Apr — strongest demand around winter and spring. Book 2–4 weeks ahead in season; slot and ramp space at TAPA tighten around holidays and major events.
Alternate airports
When TAPA is slot-restricted or weathered in.
