Ruth Haines
St. Thomas does indeed have an airport, known as the Cyril E. King International Airport (STT). The airport is located on the southwestern side of St. Thomas, approximately two miles west of the capital city, Charlotte Amalie, in the US Virgin Islands. The airport covers an area of 280 acres and features a 7,000-foot-long asphalt runway, making it one of the deepest man-made runways in the world. With a history dating back to the 1920s, the Cyril E. King Airport has undergone various transformations and is now one of the busiest airports in the eastern Caribbean, offering nonstop flights from major US cities and serving airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and more.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airport | Cyril E. King Airport |
| Location | No. 70 Lindbergh Bay, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Distance from Charlotte Amalie | Two miles |
| Area | 280 acres |
| Terminal area | 190,000 sq ft on the first floor, 60,000 sq ft on the top floor |
| Runway length | 7,000 ft x 150 ft |
| Number of gates | 11 |
| Opening hours | 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| Flight schools | Ace Flight Center |
| Airlines | Air Flamenco, Executive Jet Management, Flexjet, Jet Linx Aviation, Netjets, Standard Aviation, Signature Aviation, Air Florida, Caribair, Eastern Airlines, Midway Airlines, Pan American World Airways, Trans Caribbean Airways, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Private Jet Expeditions, USAir, JetBlue, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Seaborne Airlines |
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What You'll Learn
History of the Cyril E. King Airport
The Cyril E. King Airport, located in St. Thomas, has a long history that dates back to the early days of aviation in the region. Here is a detailed account of the airport's history:
The Early Years:
The first airport on St. Thomas was a small airstrip built in the 1920s in an area known as Mosquito Bay due to the presence of a large mosquito-infested pond. This bay was later dredged, filled in, and renamed Lindbergh Bay after Charles Lindbergh's historic landing of the Spirit of St. Louis. On January 22, 1928, the first passengers arrived on the island of St. Thomas by air via a monoplane called La Nina, owned by the Aerial Express Co. of San Juan. At the time, the airstrip was the only facility serving the island.
Military Use:
The US government acquired the airstrip in 1935 and renamed it Bourne Field. It primarily served as an airfield for the US Military, with the US Marine Corps using it for aviator training. In 1940, the US Navy ordered a major expansion of the base, which included extending and paving the runways to accommodate a VMS-3 observation squadron. After World War II, the military ceased operations in the territory, and the airport was turned over to the Virgin Islands government.
Civilian Operations:
The former military hangar was converted into a civilian terminal named after President Harry S. Truman. The airport became known as Harry S. Truman Airport. Over time, the airport grew in importance, and by the late 1960s, it was already serving jet airliners from airlines such as Trans Caribbean, Pan Am, and Caribair. American Airlines also began serving St. Thomas in 1970 after merging with Trans Caribbean Airways.
Renaming and Expansion:
On October 3, 1984, the airport was renamed Cyril E. King Airport in honor of the late Governor Cyril Emmanuel King, the second elected governor of the US Virgin Islands. Construction of the current airport terminal began in 1980 and was completed in November 1990. The new terminal featured 11 gates and significantly expanded the airport's capacity. The runway was also extended to its present length of 7,000 feet in 1992, making it one of the largest deep-water, dredged runways in the Caribbean.
Recent Developments:
In recent years, the Cyril E. King Airport has undergone modernization and expansion projects. In 2018, a $230 million modernization plan was announced, which included the addition of a pedestrian bridge and a ferry terminal. The airport has also received grants to improve lighting and redesign the apron. The airport is currently one of the busiest in the eastern Caribbean, serving over 1.4 million passengers between July 2015 and June 2016.
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Airlines that fly to St. Thomas
St. Thomas does have an airport, the Cyril E. King International Airport (STT), located at No. 70 Lindbergh Bay on the southwestern side of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The airport is approximately two miles west of the capital city, Charlotte Amalie, and is one of the busiest airports in the eastern Caribbean.
The airport operates one main runway that is 7,000 ft × 150 ft (2,134 m × 46 m) long. The two-story terminal has 11 gates in two departure areas. The airport is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., with aircraft rescue and firefighting services available during that time.
Several airlines operate flights to St. Thomas, including:
- Delta Air Lines, which offers flights from Atlanta and St. Croix, as well as direct one-stop 757 service from Washington Reagan National Airport.
- United Airlines, with flights from New York/Newark, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Houston, Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Kansas City, Dallas, Atlanta, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Columbus, New Orleans, Portland, Richmond, and Baltimore.
- American Airlines, which has been serving St. Thomas since 1970, with nonstop service from Miami and San Juan, and direct one-stop A300 flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport, Orlando, and Philadelphia. They also fly nonstop Boeing 757-200 service from New York Kennedy Airport.
- Continental Airlines, which operated nonstop Boeing 727-200 service from New York Newark Airport in 1994.
- Private Jet Expeditions (operating as National Airlines), which offered nonstops from Atlanta and direct one-stop service from Chicago Midway Airport with McDonnell Douglas MD-80s in 1994.
- USAir, which provided nonstops from Baltimore and direct one-stop service from Pittsburgh with Boeing 727-200s in 1994.
In the past, other airlines that served St. Thomas include Air Florida, Caribair, Eastern Airlines, Midway Airlines, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am), and Trans Caribbean Airways.
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Customs and TSA security at the airport
St. Thomas does have an airport: the Cyril E. King International Airport (STT). It is located at No. 70 Lindbergh Bay on the southwestern side of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and is one of the busiest airports in the eastern Caribbean.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a layered approach to security, which includes screening passengers and their carry-on baggage. This is done to prevent prohibited items and other threats to transportation security from entering the airport. TSA screens approximately 3.3 million carry-on bags for explosives and other dangerous items daily.
Passengers are required to remove personal electronic devices larger than a cell phone from their carry-on baggage and place them in a separate bin for X-ray screening. It is recommended that powder-like substances over 12 oz. / 350 mL be placed in checked baggage, as powders in carry-on baggage may require secondary screening. Most hazardous materials are forbidden in both carry-on and checked baggage.
TSA works closely with the intelligence and law enforcement communities to share information and maintain security. They also collaborate with international partners to maintain aviation security standards abroad. TSA's security measures are subject to change, and they adjust their processes to meet evolving threats.
For expedited traveler screening, eligible individuals can enrol in the TSA PreCheck® program. This program allows travellers to keep their shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, and light jackets on during screening. U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and citizens of partner countries enrolled in Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI are eligible for TSA PreCheck®. Global Entry members also receive TSA PreCheck® benefits when flying from U.S. airports.
TSA encourages travellers to arrive at the airport early to allow enough time for the screening process. They also rely on the public to report any unattended bags or packages, individuals with threatening items, or suspicious activities at the airport.
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The busiest airports in the eastern Caribbean
St. Thomas does have an airport—the Cyril E. King International Airport (STT). It is a public airport located at No. 70 Lindbergh Bay on the southwestern side of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, approximately two miles west of the capital city, Charlotte Amalie. The airport covers an area of about 280 acres of land, with an asphalt runway measuring 7,000 feet long by 150 feet wide (2,134 x 46 meters). It is one of the deepest man-made runways in the world.
The Cyril E. King Airport is one of the busiest airports in the eastern Caribbean. In 2016, it was the busiest airport in the US Virgin Islands, accommodating 1,284 flights. The airport is very busy for airliners and can accommodate aircraft of all sizes. The airport terminal has 11 gates in two departure areas and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) – 1,799 flights. It is the busiest airport in the region for airline flights and private jet charter activity.
- Princess Juliana International Airport, St Maarten (SXM) – 1,586 flights. The airport offers one of the world's most stunning landings, coming in very low over the water.
- Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados (BGI) – 487 flights. It is the main airport gateway for Barbados and an important access point for the Eastern Caribbean.
- V C Bird International, Antigua & Barbuda (ANU) – 486 flights. It is the only airport on the island of Antigua, located close to the island's capital, St John's.
- Lynden Pindling International Airport, Nassau, Bahamas (NAS). Nassau is the capital city of the Bahamas, and Lynden Pindling is the major international airport for the city.
- Providenciales International Airport, Turks & Caicos (PLS). It is the largest airport in the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory.
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The distance from New York to St. Thomas
St. Thomas is served by the Cyril E. King International Airport (STT), located at No. 70 Lindbergh Bay on the southwestern side of the island, approximately two miles west of the capital city, Charlotte Amalie. The airport covers an area of 280 acres and features a 7,000-foot-long asphalt runway, one of the deepest man-made runways in the world.
As for the distance between New York and St. Thomas, it is approximately 1,633 miles or 2,628 kilometres. This distance is often referred to as the "as the crow flies" distance, representing the shortest path between the two points due to the curvature of the Earth. Commercial airlines typically follow this path, which appears as a curve on maps.
The flight time for this route is approximately 3 hours and 46 minutes. However, the total travel time may be longer, considering factors such as airport wait times, taxiing, security checks, and possible delays.
Several airlines have offered direct flights from New York to St. Thomas, including American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Private Jet Expeditions (operating as National Airlines). These flights depart from various New York airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, St. Thomas has an airport called the Cyril E. King International Airport (STT).
The airport is located at No. 70 Lindbergh Bay on the southwestern side of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, approximately two miles west of the capital city, Charlotte Amalie.
The airport operates one main asphalt runway that is 7,000 ft × 150 ft (2,134 m × 46 m) long, making it one of the deepest man-made runways in the world.
It is advised to arrive at the airport 2-3 hours early for departure. Customs can sometimes take over 2 hours to clear, and the airport staff has been described as indifferent. The airport is also not fully equipped with electronic setups like facial recognition and kiosks, so it is recommended to carry a GOES card to speed up the process.
