Flights to St Barts from the US: How to Get There, Step by Step
There are no nonstop flights from the US to St Barts. The island’s runway is only 646 meters long and takes small aircraft alone, so the usual route is a nonstop flight to St Maarten (SXM), then a 15-minute flight to St Barts (SBH), or a ferry of 45 minutes to an hour to Gustavia. About a dozen US cities fly nonstop to St Maarten this winter, among them New York, Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago and Washington. San Juan, in Puerto Rico, is the second gateway, an hour’s flight from the island. Whichever way you come, land before dark: the St Barts airport closes at sunset. Below, every route for the 2026–2027 season, and the houses closest to the airport from our St Barts villa rentals.
Flights to St Barts at a glance
| Nonstop from the US | None. The runway takes only small aircraft, so every trip ends with a short flight or a ferry. |
|---|---|
| Main gateway | St Maarten (SXM), with nonstops from about a dozen US cities in winter. In 2025, 59% of the island’s air passengers came through it. |
| Second gateway | San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU), with nonstops from about 30 US cities and a one-hour flight to St Barts; 18% of passengers in 2025. |
| Last leg | 15 minutes by air from St Maarten, about an hour from San Juan, about 35 minutes from Antigua; 45 minutes to an hour by ferry from St Maarten to Gustavia. |
| The airport | St Barts Airport (SBH; ICAO code TFFJ), officially Rémy de Haenen and often still called Gustaf III, in St Jean, a few minutes from Gustavia. |
| Opening hours | From 7 a.m. until shortly after sunset, with no landings after dark. From November to mid-January the sun sets before 6 p.m. |
| Flight time from the US | About four and a half hours from New York or Washington to St Maarten, three and a quarter from Miami, six from Chicago. |
| Time zone | Atlantic Standard Time all year: one hour ahead of New York in winter, the same in summer. |
| Paperwork | A US passport valid for at least six months; no visa for stays of up to 90 days. St Maarten asks every arriving passenger, in transit too, for its online ED card. |
| One island, many names | St Barts, St Barths, St Barth and Saint-Barthélemy are the same island, a French overseas collectivity. |
Can you fly direct to St Barts from the US?
No. No airline flies nonstop from the United States to St Barts, and no airliner could land there. The runway is 646 meters (2,119 feet) long, aircraft are limited to a takeoff weight of 5.7 tonnes, and every pilot needs a qualification specific to the airport, kept current by landing there at least every six months. The island airlines fly small turboprops, such as the eight-seat Pilatus PC-12, the Cessna Grand Caravan and the Twin Otter.
A small private aircraft of that kind can fly straight to the island from San Juan, St Thomas or St Croix. Larger private jets land in St Maarten, San Juan or Antigua, and the last leg is a short charter flight, a helicopter or a boat.
Nonstop flights from the US to St Maarten, winter 2026–2027
Princess Juliana Airport, on the Dutch side of St Maarten, is the gateway for most guests. These are the US cities with nonstop flights this winter; some routes fly only from about November to April.
| Airline | Nonstop to St Maarten from |
|---|---|
| American | Miami and Charlotte all year; New York JFK, Philadelphia and Chicago O’Hare in winter |
| Delta | Atlanta all year; New York JFK in winter |
| JetBlue | New York JFK, Boston and Fort Lauderdale |
| United | Newark, Washington Dulles and Chicago O’Hare |
| Southwest | Orlando; Baltimore/Washington in winter |
| Sun Country | Minneapolis/St Paul, January to April |
From Canada, Air Canada, Air Transat and WestJet fly to St Maarten from Toronto and Montréal. Routes as scheduled by the airlines in October 2026; we check the current flight for your dates when we plan the trip.
The flight takes about four hours and 40 minutes from New York, about four and a half from Washington and Baltimore, three and a quarter from Miami, and about six from Chicago. For more detail from the Northeast, see how to get to St Barts from New York; from Florida, how far St Barts is from Miami.
San Juan and Antigua: the other gateways
San Juan is the simpler route for much of the country. Flights from the mainland are domestic, so there is no passport check on that leg, and about 30 US cities fly there nonstop, among them Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Denver, Detroit and Minneapolis, which have no nonstop to St Maarten. From San Juan, Tradewind flies to St Barts all year in about an hour, in an eight-seat Pilatus PC-12 flown by two pilots, with a private lounge in San Juan for connecting guests and up to 20 to 25 flights each way at the height of the season. On a ticket that combines the two airlines, bags are transferred automatically.
Antigua has nonstops from Miami, New York JFK and Newark, and in winter from Charlotte and Atlanta. Tradewind’s flight from Antigua to St Barts takes about 35 minutes, mainly from November to April.
The last leg: flight, ferry or private
| Option | Time | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled flight from St Maarten | 15 minutes | Most guests, families, checked luggage | Winair and St Barth Commuter; allow at least 1 hour 15 minutes to connect |
| Scheduled flight from San Juan | About an hour | Guests from the Midwest, Texas and the West | Tradewind, all year, with a private lounge in San Juan |
| Scheduled flight from Antigua | About 35 minutes | A connection from Miami or New York | Tradewind, mainly from November to April |
| Ferry from St Maarten | 45 minutes from Philipsburg; about an hour from Marigot | Light luggage and an arrival by sea in Gustavia | A taxi from the airport to the port; the crossing can be rough when the trade winds blow hard |
| Charter flight or helicopter | Minutes from St Maarten | Groups, late connections, privacy | Daylight only, like every flight to the island |
| Private boat | About as long as the ferry, depending on the sea | Groups, and guests joining a yacht in Gustavia | Arranged by your concierge to meet the plane |
Connecting in St Maarten: what to know
- Land by early afternoon. The St Barts airport closes shortly after sunset, before 6 p.m. from November to mid-January, and St Barth Commuter asks for at least 1 hour 15 minutes to connect. A US flight that lands in St Maarten by early afternoon leaves room for a delay.
- Stay in transit. St Barth Commuter accepts only passengers in transit at Princess Juliana, and those with carry-on bags only do not need to clear immigration there. Fill in St Maarten’s online ED card before you fly in any case: the island asks for it from transit passengers too.
- Pack for a small plane. On St Barth Commuter, each fare includes one checked bag of 23 kilograms (50 pounds) and a cabin bag of 12 kilograms (26 pounds). Golf bags, extra suitcases and strollers need arranging in advance.
- One ticket, or a buffer. On two separate tickets, a late arrival in St Maarten is your risk, not the airline’s. Book the connection on one ticket where the airlines allow it, or leave a generous margin.
- Going home. Leave at least two hours between the flight from St Barts and your flight to the US, as the island airline recommends.
- A night on St Martin first? St Barth Commuter then flies you from Grand Case, on the French side, 30 to 40 minutes by taxi from Princess Juliana.
Getting to St Barts from your US city
| From | Best route | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Nonstop from JFK or Newark to St Maarten, then 15 minutes to St Barts | About six to seven hours from takeoff to the island on a morning flight |
| Boston | Nonstop to St Maarten on JetBlue | Or connect in New York or Charlotte |
| Miami and Fort Lauderdale | From Miami, nonstop to St Maarten, San Juan or Antigua; from Fort Lauderdale, to St Maarten or San Juan | The shortest flights, and the most choice |
| Washington and Baltimore | Nonstop to St Maarten from Dulles, or from Baltimore in winter | About four and a half hours to St Maarten |
| Atlanta and Charlotte | Nonstop to St Maarten on Delta or American | Year-round routes |
| Chicago | Nonstop to St Maarten, or via San Juan | About six hours to St Maarten |
| Dallas, Houston, Denver and Detroit | Nonstop to San Juan, then the one-hour flight | Or connect in Miami or Charlotte for St Maarten |
| Minneapolis | Nonstop to St Maarten from January to April, or to San Juan | In late fall and December, San Juan is the nonstop |
| Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle | One stop to St Maarten or San Juan, through Miami, Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas or New York | To land before sunset, take a red-eye or spend a night on the way |
Flying private to St Barts
Large private jets land in St Maarten, where a new terminal for private-jet passengers opened in November 2025, or in San Juan or Antigua. From there, the last leg is a short charter flight in a small aircraft, a helicopter or a private boat. A small aircraft such as the Pilatus PC-12 can also fly straight in: about 55 minutes from San Juan, 41 from St Thomas and 36 from St Croix. Every arrival still has to land before dark.
Joining a yacht in Gustavia? The simplest link is the 15-minute flight and a few minutes’ drive to the harbor; a private boat can also take you from St Maarten straight to the yacht. Your concierge times either one to the jet’s arrival.
Passport and entry rules
St Barts is French, with the euro as its currency, but it is not part of the Schengen area. The US State Department asks US citizens for a passport valid for at least six months; no visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days, with a return ticket and confirmation of where you are staying. If you connect in St Maarten, fill in its online ED card before you fly. For other passports, see do you need a passport for St Barts.
When to fly, and when to book
- The busiest weeks. Christmas and New Year, Presidents’ Day week (February 15 to 19, 2027), the Bucket Regatta (March 17 to 21, 2027) and Easter (March 28, 2027). On the busiest day of early 2026, March 21, the airport handled 1,496 passengers and 346 aircraft movements. See the St Barts events of the season.
- Book the villa first. Nine to twelve months ahead for Christmas, New Year and the peak weeks of the winter; six to nine months for the other weeks.
- Then the flights. The island aircraft carry fewer than twenty passengers, so book the last leg as soon as the US flight is confirmed, especially for the holiday weeks.
- Hurricane season. June 1 to November 30. In those months, keep a day of flexibility on either side of the trip; see the best time to visit St Barts.
Where to stay: the villas closest to the airport
The airport is in St Jean, a few minutes from Gustavia, and nowhere on the island is far: from the houses below, the drive takes 5 to 15 minutes, and each one includes a meet and greet or a transfer on arrival. For the areas in detail, see the best areas to stay in St Barts.
Villa Neo
St Jean · 6 bedrooms · sleeps 12
A glass-walled house with a long pool on the hillside above St Jean Beach, one minute from St Jean and five from the airport. Housekeeping seven days a week, grocery delivery and the transfer from the airport are included. Five-night minimum.
Closest to the airport
Villa Roxane
Gustavia · 6 bedrooms · sleeps 12
In the heart of Gustavia, a minute from the restaurants and shops of the harbor town and five from the airport, with a large heated pool facing the sea and the bedrooms set in two buildings. A meet and greet at the port or the airport is included.
For an arrival by ferry or yacht
Manoir De Lorient
Lorient · 7 bedrooms · sleeps 14
An 18th-century Norman manor, taken down in France and rebuilt on St Barts in the 1980s, a short walk from Lorient Beach, with each bedroom in its own garden pavilion. St Jean is five minutes away and the airport eight. A meet and greet on arrival and daily housekeeping, except Sundays, are included.
For a family group
Villa Wake Up
Flamands · 6 bedrooms · sleeps 12
Above Flamands Beach, a one-minute walk from the sand, with a sauna, a hammam, a spa room and an elevator. The airport and St Jean are 10 to 15 minutes away. A personal butler, a private chef and breakfast every day are included, with a meet and greet at the airport.
For a staffed house on the beach
More St Barts guides
- St Barts villa rentals
Our collection, with a shortlist in 24 hours. - How to get to St Barts from NYC
JFK, Newark and LaGuardia compared. - How far is St Barts from Miami
Distance and flight times from Florida. - What airlines fly to St Barts
The island airlines, gateway by gateway. - Do you need a passport for St Barts
Entry rules by country. - The best time to visit St Barts
Season by season, from New Year to the quiet summer.
Flights to St Barts: your questions answered
Can you fly direct to St Barts from the US?
No. There are no nonstop flights from the United States to St Barts, because the island’s 646-meter runway takes only small aircraft. Fly nonstop to St Maarten and take the 15-minute flight or the ferry, or fly to San Juan and take the one-hour flight.
What is the best way to get to St Barts from the US?
For most guests, a nonstop flight to St Maarten that lands by early afternoon, then the 15-minute flight to St Barts. From the Midwest, Texas and the West, San Juan is often simpler, with a one-hour flight to the island. A private jet to St Maarten and a short charter flight is the most flexible.
Which airport do you fly into for St Barts?
St Barts has its own small airport, SBH (ICAO code TFFJ), in St Jean, officially named Rémy de Haenen and often still called Gustaf III. From the US you first fly into St Maarten (SXM), San Juan (SJU) or Antigua (ANU), then on to SBH.
What airlines fly to St Barts?
Winair and St Barth Commuter fly from St Maarten, St Barth Commuter also from Grand Case on St Martin and from Guadeloupe, Tradewind from San Juan and Antigua, and Cape Air from St Thomas. No major US airline flies to St Barts itself: American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Southwest and Sun Country fly to St Maarten.
How long does it take to get from New York to St Barts?
About four hours and 40 minutes nonstop from New York JFK or Newark to St Maarten, at least an hour and a quarter to connect, and 15 minutes to St Barts: about six to seven hours from takeoff to the island on a morning flight.
Is it better to take the ferry or the flight from St Maarten?
Fly if you have checked luggage, young children or a tight connection: the flight takes 15 minutes and leaves from the airport where you land. Take the ferry, about 45 minutes from Philipsburg to Gustavia, if you travel light and want to arrive by sea; it means a taxi to the port, and the crossing can be rough when the trade winds blow hard.
Can you land in St Barts at night?
No. Landings after dark are not allowed: the airport opens at 7 a.m. and closes shortly after sunset, which falls before 6 p.m. from November to mid-January. If your US flight lands in St Maarten too late to connect, plan a night on St Martin.
Do you need a passport to go to St Barts from the US?
Yes. St Barts is French, and the US State Department asks for a US passport valid for at least six months. No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days, with a return ticket and confirmation of where you are staying.
Is St Barts part of the US?
No. St Barts, also called St Barths or Saint-Barthélemy, is a French overseas collectivity in the Caribbean, southeast of St Martin, and its currency is the euro. It is not part of the Schengen area.
How do you get from a private jet in St Maarten to a yacht in Gustavia?
Either a 15-minute charter flight to St Barts and a few minutes’ drive to Gustavia harbor, or a private boat from St Maarten straight to the yacht, about as long as the ferry, depending on the sea. Your concierge times either one to the jet’s arrival, and the flight has to land before dark.
Updated October 2026 for the 2026–2027 season. Sources: airport traffic for 2025 and early 2026 from Le Journal de Saint-Barth; runway, opening hours and aircraft limits from France’s official aeronautical information for the airport (October 2026); entry rules from the US State Department; connection times and baggage from St Barth Commuter; San Juan and Antigua flights from Tradewind; US routes as scheduled by the airlines in October 2026. We confirm the current schedules for your dates when we plan your trip.
Plan your arrival in St Barts
Tell us your dates, who is coming and where you fly from. A St Barts specialist replies within 24 hours with three to five villas that fit, their current rates, and the connection, the meet and greet and the transfers timed to your flights.
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