Roberta Aguirre
The British Virgin Islands is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean. There are two airports in the British Virgin Islands with scheduled flights. The biggest airport is Tortola (EIS) / Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, which has flights to 10 destinations in 9 countries. There are no direct flights from Canada, Europe, or South America to the airport, so travellers often have to connect through another Caribbean airport. However, there are direct flights from Miami to Beef Island, Tortola, on American Airlines.
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What You'll Learn
Terrence B. Lettsome Airport (Tortola's airport)
Terrence B. Lettsome Airport (IATA: EIS, ICAO: TUPJ), formerly known as Beef Island Airport, is the primary airport serving the British Virgin Islands, a British overseas territory in the Caribbean. The airport is located on Beef Island, a small island off the coast of the main island of Tortola, and is connected to it by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
Terrence B. Lettsome Airport serves as a gateway to almost all of the islands within the British Virgin Islands. It is also a popular entry point for inter-Caribbean travellers en route to the neighbouring U.S. Virgin Islands. Many visitors fly into Beef Island, intending to take a ferry to the other smaller British Virgin Islands. The airport is approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) east of Road Town, Tortola's capital, and the drive from the city centre to the airport takes around 25 minutes.
The airport underwent a significant $55 million renovation in 2004, which included runway expansion to accommodate larger aircraft. This development was, at the time, the largest capital project ever undertaken in the territory. In 2016, the government announced plans to further extend the runway by 2,504 feet (763 metres), but these plans were seemingly discontinued in 2017.
Terrence B. Lettsome Airport has a small information centre in the main hall of the terminal. There are also a few shops, including Coconut Republic and a liquor store. A reservation desk in the terminal assists with tourist needs such as accommodation and tour bookings. The airport provides basic facilities for disabled travellers, and passengers requiring additional assistance are advised to contact their airline before travelling. Taxis, minibuses, luxury cars, and even open-air safari car services are available at the airport for transportation to Road Town or other destinations.
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Connecting flights from Antigua
Travellers from the UK may find it easiest to travel to the British Virgin Islands via Antigua's V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU). From there, you can connect to the British Virgin Islands' main airport, Terrance B. Lettsome Airport (EIS), previously known as Beef Island Airport. This airport is located on Beef Island, a small island off the main island of Tortola, and acts as a gateway to almost all of the islands within the British Virgin Islands.
There are several options for connecting flights from Antigua to Terrance B. Lettsome Airport. InterCaribbean Airways offers 12 nonstop flights and 10 connecting flights per week. Tradewind Aviation is another popular option, offering 113 connecting flights per week. Winair provides 2 nonstop flights and 50 connecting flights per week. Additionally, Fly Salone operates 35 connecting flights per week. These flights are available every day, with some airlines offering daily nonstop flights as well.
The duration of flights from Antigua to Tortola is approximately 60 minutes. Travellers can also opt for charter flights to Tortola or Virgin Gorda through airlines like Tradewind Aviation, Air Paradise, VI Air Link, and Island Birds. Helicopter charters are available through Caribbean Buzz.
It is worth noting that there are no direct flights from Canada, Europe, or South America to Terrance B. Lettsome Airport. However, several excellent connecting airports surround the British Virgin Islands, including Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Antigua, and St. Maarten.
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No direct flights from Europe
The British Virgin Islands' main airport is Tortola's Terrence B. Lettsome Airport (EIS), previously known as Beef Island Airport. It is located on Beef Island, a small island off the main island of Tortola, to which it is connected by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
There are no direct flights from Europe to Terrence B. Lettsome Airport. However, there are several connecting airports in the Caribbean that offer flights to the British Virgin Islands. These include:
- San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
- St. Thomas, USVI (STT)
- Antigua (ANU)
- St. Maarten (SXM)
- Barbados (BGI)
For travellers from the UK, it may be easiest to fly directly to Antigua's VC Bird International Airport and then book a connecting flight to Tortola with LIAT, Caribbean Airlines, or interCaribbean Airways. Alternatively, you can book a private charter flight.
If you are travelling from Europe, you can fly to one of the connecting airports mentioned above via London, Paris, or Madrid. From there, you can take a connecting flight to the British Virgin Islands. It is also common for European travellers to lay over in U.S. cities such as Miami, Charlotte, or New York before reaching their final destination in the BVI.
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Charter flights and ferry services
The British Virgin Islands are a collection of islands in the Caribbean, with the main airport being the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS), previously known as Beef Island Airport. This airport is located on Beef Island, a small island off the coast of the main island of Tortola, and acts as a gateway to the other British Virgin Islands. There are no direct flights from Canada, Europe, or South America to this airport. However, there are several connecting airports nearby, such as Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Antigua, and St. Maarten.
For those seeking a more exclusive travel experience, private charter flights are available to the British Virgin Islands. Companies like Island Birds and evoJets provide private jet charter services to the islands from various locations around the world. Island Birds, in partnership with Helidosa Aviation Group, offers access to a fleet of jet aircraft, including the Gulfstream GIV SP G 400 and Citation Sovereign. evoJets, the self-proclaimed leading jet charter service across the Caribbean, also provides private jet charter options to the British Virgin Islands.
In addition to air travel, ferry services play a crucial role in transportation between the islands. Speedy's Ferry Services is a well-known and trusted provider of ferry transportation in the British Virgin Islands, offering fast, safe, and convenient travel. They provide daily scheduled routes and private charters to destinations such as Virgin Gorda, Tortola, Beef Island, and St. Thomas. Another notable ferry service is Inter Island Boat Services, which offers daily ferry transportation to popular vacation resorts in the British Virgin Islands, including Virgin Gorda, Tortola, and Anegada. These ferry services not only facilitate travel between the islands but also contribute to the overall tourist experience, allowing passengers to enjoy the breathtaking waters and natural beauty of the region.
When planning a trip to the British Virgin Islands, it is important to consider the convenience of charter flights and the charm of ferry services. These options not only ensure a seamless travel experience but also provide opportunities to soak in the natural beauty and indulge in the unique characteristics of each island. Whether you choose to arrive by air or sea, the journey itself becomes an integral part of the overall British Virgin Islands experience.
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Beef Island, BVI flights
The Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (IATA: EIS, ICAO: TUPJ), formerly known as Beef Island Airport, is the main airport serving the British Virgin Islands. It is located on Beef Island, a small island off the main island of Tortola, which is connected by the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.
There are no direct flights to Tortola's Terrence B. Lettsome Airport from Canada, Europe, or South America. However, there are several connecting airports in the Caribbean, such as Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Antigua, and St. Maarten. Travellers from the UK may find it easiest to travel to Antigua via VC Bird International Airport and then book connecting flights to Tortola with LIAT or Caribbean Airlines.
The most direct flight route from North America to Beef Island, BVI, is from Miami, Florida, with American Airlines. This route commenced on June 1, 2023. There are also regular flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Virgin Gorda with Cape Air and Tradewind Aviation. Charter airline services can be arranged from almost anywhere in the Caribbean.
When booking flights to Beef Island, travellers can use online travel agencies like Expedia and Opodo, which offer a wide range of options and allow for easy price comparisons. It is generally cheaper to fly during the week and from Tuesday to Thursday, as weekends tend to be more expensive. Low season in Beef Island is also a great time to find cheaper flights and less crowded places, allowing for a more authentic experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (IATA: EIS, ICAO: TUPJ), previously known as Beef Island Airport, is the main airport serving the British Virgin Islands.
Yes, there are 2 airports in the British Virgin Islands with scheduled flights. The biggest airport is Tortola (EIS) / Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, and the other airport is on Virgin Gorda (VIJ).
No, there are no direct flights from Europe to the British Virgin Islands. Flights from Europe will usually connect through another Caribbean airport such as Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Antigua, or St. Maarten.
Many airlines fly to the British Virgin Islands, including American Airlines, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines, LIAT, interCaribbean Airways, and Tradewind Aviation.
