St. Thomas Airport: A Small Hub With Big Impact

The Cyril E. King Airport (STT) in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, is located on the waterfront of Lindbergh Bay, covering 280 acres of land. The airport is one of the busiest in the eastern Caribbean, with 61,255 aircraft operations in the year ending September 30, 2017, averaging 167 per day. The airport's runway was expanded to 7,000 feet long and 150 feet wide in 1992, making it one of the largest deep-water runways in the Caribbean. The two-story terminal, built in 1990, measures 190,000 square feet on the first floor, with 11 gates, and 60,000 square feet on the top floor.

History of St Thomas Airport

St. Thomas Airport, officially known as Cyril E. King Airport (STT), has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century. Located on the southwestern side of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, the airport has played a significant role in the region's aviation and overall development.

The site of the airport holds historical significance, as it was originally known as Mosquito Bay in the 1920s due to the presence of a large mosquito-infested pond nearby. In 1927, St. Thomas Airport began as a small airstrip, serving as the only facility for the island of St. Thomas. The first passengers arrived on January 22, 1928, aboard a monoplane called La Nina, owned by the Aerial Express Co. of San Juan. At the time, the airstrip was in civilian use.

On September 1, 1935, the US government purchased the airstrip and renamed it Bourne Field, after the first person to fly non-stop from the United States to Nicaragua. The US military further developed the airfield, primarily using it for military purposes. During this time, the facility consisted of two 1,600-foot (490-meter) unpaved runways, which were utilized for training US Marine Corps aviators.

In 1940, the US Navy ordered a significant 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 airfield was turned over to the VI government. The original terminal, constructed in the 1940s, was an old military hangar. On March 25, 1950, the Department of the Interior leased the land to the Virgin Islands, but the lease was cancelled in 1954 due to reported violations. As a result, the property was transferred to the US Virgin Islands Corporation.

On October 3, 1984, the airport was renamed Cyril E. King Airport in honour of the late Governor Cyril Emmanuel King, the second elected governor of the US Virgin Islands. Construction of the current terminal began in 1980 and was completed in November 1990. The runway was extended to its present length of 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) in 1992, making it one of the deepest man-made runways in the world.

Today, Cyril E. King Airport is one of the busiest airports in the eastern Caribbean, offering nonstop flights from major US cities and serving various airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. The airport covers an area of 280 acres (110 hectares) and features an asphalt runway, a two-story terminal with 11 gates, and various enhancements to provide a modern and efficient travel experience.

Cyril E. King Airport's runway

The Cyril E. King Airport, located on the southwestern side of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, has a runway that measures 7,000 feet long by 150 feet wide (2,134 metres by 46 metres). The runway is made of asphalt and is one of the deepest man-made runways in the world. The airport, covering 280 acres of land, is one of the busiest in the eastern Caribbean.

The airport was originally known as Mosquito Bay in the 1920s, when it was a small airstrip. The bay was renamed Lindbergh Bay after Charles Lindbergh used it to land the Spirit of St. Louis. The US government purchased the airstrip in 1935 and renamed it Bourne Field. The field had two 1,600-foot-long (490-metre) unpaved runways used for training US Marine Corps aviators.

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. During World War II, the squadron patrolled the surrounding areas for enemy submarines. However, by 1944, enemy submarine activity had decreased, rendering the base redundant. The base was handed over to civilian authorities in 1946 and leased to the US Department of the Interior for civilian use. The former hangar was converted into a civilian terminal named after President Harry S. Truman.

In 1984, the airport was renamed Cyril E. King Airport in honour of the late Governor Cyril Emmanuel King, the second elected governor of the US Virgin Islands. Construction of the current terminal began in 1980 and was completed in November 1990. The runway was extended from 4,200 to its current length of 7,000 feet in 1992.

Airlines that fly to St Thomas

The Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is a public airport located on the southwestern side of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. The airport covers an area of 280 acres and contains one asphalt runway measuring 7,000 ft x 150 ft. It is one of the busiest airports in the eastern Caribbean, with an average of 167 aircraft operations per day.

Several airlines operate flights to and from St. Thomas, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and Seaborne Airlines. Cape Air is also one of the most popular airline carriers that flies domestically from St. Thomas.

In the past, several other airlines have served St. Thomas, including Air Florida, Caribair, Eastern Airlines, Midway Airlines, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am), and Trans Caribbean Airways. American Airlines, for instance, has served St. Thomas since 1970, following its acquisition of and merger with Trans Caribbean Airways.

Nonstop flights to St. Thomas are available from several US airports, including New York, Boston, Chicago, Dulles, Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Charlotte, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. The flight time from New York to St. Thomas is approximately four hours.

St Thomas Airport's terminal

The Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is located on the waterfront of Lindbergh Bay on the southwestern coast of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. It is approximately two to four miles west of the capital city, Charlotte Amalie. The airport covers an area of 280 acres and contains one asphalt runway measuring 7,000 ft x 150 ft (2,134 m x 46 m). The two-story airport terminal was built in November 1990. It measures 190,000 square feet on the first floor and has 11 gates. The top floor measures 60,000 square feet. The terminal is open from 6 am to 11 pm.

The airport was originally known as Bourne Field and was an airfield for the U.S. military. The Virgin Islands took ownership of the airport after World War II. The original terminal, constructed in the 1940s, was an old military hangar and was named the Harry S. Truman Airport. The airport was renamed in 1984 to honour the late Cyril Emmanuel King, the second elected governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The airport has undergone several enhancements and upgrades over the years, including improvements to the terminals, lounges, and concession and shopping areas. The runway was expanded from 4,200 feet to 7,000 feet in 1992, making it one of the largest deep-water runways in the Caribbean. The airport is easily accessible by road, located off Highway 302, and parking is available right outside the terminal.

Several airlines operate at the airport, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines, and more. The airport offers nonstop flights to St. Thomas from major U.S. cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, and Miami. Water taxi services are also available at the airport, providing connections to St. John and the British Virgin Islands.

St Thomas Airport's location

St. Thomas Airport, officially known as Cyril E. King Airport (STT), is located on the island of St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands. The airport is situated on the southwestern side of the island, approximately two miles west of the capital city, Charlotte Amalie.

The airport is easily accessible from the capital city, providing a convenient gateway to the US Virgin Islands for travellers. St. Thomas Airport is one of the busiest airports in the eastern Caribbean, serving a significant number of passengers each year. Its convenient location makes it a popular choice for those travelling to the US Virgin Islands and even the nearby British Virgin Islands.

The history of St. Thomas Airport dates back to the 1920s when it was a small airstrip known as Mosquito Bay. Over the years, the airport has undergone several name changes and expansions. The US government acquired the airstrip in 1935 and renamed it Bourne Field, primarily using it as a military airfield. After World War II, the airport was transferred to the VI government, and the original military hangar was converted into a civilian terminal.

St. Thomas Airport covers an area of approximately 280 acres (110 hectares). It features a single asphalt runway, which measures 7,000 feet in length and 150 feet in width (2,134 x 46 meters). The runway is one of the deepest man-made runways in the world. The airport also boasts a two-story terminal, constructed in November 1990, with 11 gates across two departure areas. The terminal offers various services and facilities for travellers, including ticketing, federal services, aircraft rescue, and firefighting.

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