Owais Crawford
Saint Lucia is an island in the Caribbean that is serviced by two airports: Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) and George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU). Hewanorra International Airport is the larger of the two and is located on the southern tip of the island in Vieux Fort, while George F.L. Charles Airport is the smaller, regional airport located in the capital city of Castries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of airports | 2 |
| Names of airports | Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU) |
| Airport locations | Hewanorra International Airport: Vieux Fort Quarter, southern tip of the island; George F.L. Charles Airport: Castries, north of the island |
| Airport sizes | Hewanorra International Airport: larger of the two airports; George F.L. Charles Airport: smaller of the two airports |
| Number of passengers | Hewanorra International Airport: 700,000 per year |
| Aircraft accommodation | Hewanorra International Airport: Boeing 747, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Boeing 777, and other long-range intercontinental jet aircraft |
| Aircraft maintenance | Hewanorra International Airport: Caribbean Dispatch Services |
| Airlines | Hewanorra International Airport: American Airlines, JetBlue Airlines, Air Canada, Transat, BWIA West Indies Airways; George F.L. Charles Airport: 3 regional airlines |
| Destinations | Hewanorra International Airport: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Miami, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal, London, Manchester, Frankfurt, Zurich; George F.L. Charles Airport: Caribbean region |
| Annual flights | George F.L. Charles Airport: 32,000 |
| Facilities | Hewanorra International Airport: shopping, dining options, parking, currency exchange; George F.L. Charles Airport: snack bars, souvenir shops |
| Attractions | Hewanorra International Airport: waterfalls, hiking trails, Sulphur Springs; George F.L. Charles Airport: closer to Sandals Resorts and northern resorts and attractions |
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What You'll Learn
Hewanorra International Airport (UVF)
UVF offers modern facilities and amenities, including dining options, shopping, and parking. However, parking is quite limited, with only 100 spaces available. The airport has a single east-west runway, with turning bays at the end for back-tracking. Due to trade winds that blow northeast across the island, aircraft typically arrive and depart in a westerly direction.
Several airlines offer daily flights to UVF from the United States, including American Airlines and JetBlue Airlines, with direct flights from cities like Miami, Boston, and New York. Canadian travellers can take advantage of direct flights from Toronto and Montreal, operated by Air Canada and Transat. European passengers also have direct flight options from London and Manchester, UK.
The airport was originally known as Beane Army Airfield, serving as a military airfield for the United States Army Air Force during World War II. After being refurbished and converted into a commercial airport, it was renamed Hewanorra International Airport, derived from an Amerindian word meaning "(land of the) iguana".
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George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU)
George F.L. Charles Airport (IATA: SLU, ICAO: TLPC), commonly known as Vigie Airport, is one of two airports in Saint Lucia, the other being Hewanorra International Airport (UVF). George F.L. Charles Airport is located in Castries, the capital city of Saint Lucia, about 2 km (1.2 mi) north of the city centre. It is the smaller of the two airports, primarily serving inter-island regional travel. The airport is managed by the Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA) and its runway runs parallel to Vigie Beach, a popular tourist attraction.
George F.L. Charles Airport was previously known as Vigie Field before being renamed on 4 August 1997 in honour of Saint Lucia politician Sir George Frederick Lawrence Charles (1916-2004). On average, the airport handles 32,000 flights per year, carrying 394,000 passengers. Most of these flights operate with turboprop aircraft such as the ATR 72-500 or the de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8. The airport currently has no scheduled jet service, with all jet services into Saint Lucia operating through Hewanorra International Airport.
George F.L. Charles Airport is ideal for travellers embarking on island-hopping adventures or staying at Sandals Resorts in the Caribbean. The airport offers a more compact and efficient experience, with facilities like snack bars and souvenir shops. It is also closer to the Sandals Resorts than Hewanorra International Airport, making it a convenient choice for those travelling from other Caribbean destinations.
The airport has seen several incidents involving aircraft veering off the runway, including an incident in 2015 when a Beechcraft Model 99 veered off the runway into a grassy area due to a malfunction in the right landing gear. Fortunately, the sole occupant of the aircraft, the pilot, was not harmed.
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Location and travel time
Saint Lucia is served by two airports: Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) and George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU).
Hewanorra International Airport is located on the southern tip of the island in Vieux Fort, about 53.4 km (33.2 mi) from the capital city, Castries. It is the larger of the two airports and the only one serving international flights. The airport is about 45 minutes from Soufriere and is well-connected to the rest of the island, with transfers, taxis, and rental cars available. The airport is also accessible by helicopter, offering a scenic introduction to the island.
George F.L. Charles Airport, on the other hand, is located in the capital city of Castries in the north of Saint Lucia. It is the smaller of the two airports and primarily serves inter-island regional travel. This airport is ideal for those embarking on island-hopping adventures or staying at resorts in the Caribbean. It is about an hour's drive from Soufriere and offers a more compact and efficient experience, with facilities like snack bars and souvenir shops.
Both airports offer convenient access to a range of attractions across the island, including waterfalls, hiking trails, and the popular Sulphur Springs (drive-in volcano). The furthest travel distance between any two points on the island is just around an hour and a half, making Saint Lucia a relatively easy place to navigate.
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History of Hewanorra International Airport
Hewanorra International Airport (IATA: UVF, ICAO: TLPL) is the larger of Saint Lucia's two airports. It is located near Vieux Fort Quarter, on the southern tip of the island, about 53.4 km (33.2 mi) from the capital city, Castries. The airport is a Fire Category 9 facility, handling 700,000 passengers a year, and can accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A330.
The airport was originally established as a military airfield during World War II and was known as Beane Army Airfield, operated by the United States Army Air Force. It was activated in early 1941 to defend Saint Lucia and the Caribbean region from enemy attacks. The airfield was later renamed Beane Air Force Base and was used extensively by the U.S. Air Force until the late 1940s, when it was closed in 1949.
After its closure by the U.S. Air Force, the airfield was handed over to the local government, which decided to convert it into a commercial airport. Growth was slow initially, but steady over the years. Today, the airport is capable of handling large aircraft, including jumbo jets and modern airbuses. It offers various services and facilities for travellers, including duty-free shopping, dining options, currency exchange, and efficient customs and baggage claim processes.
There have been proposals to expand the airport to accommodate Saint Lucia's growing tourism industry. The plans include constructing a new terminal building that is more than twice the size of the current one, with additional jet bridges and parking positions. Additionally, there are intentions to widen the runway to accommodate larger aircraft, such as the Airbus A380. The expansion aims to enhance the airport's capacity and improve the overall travel experience for visitors to Saint Lucia.
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Airport facilities and amenities
Saint Lucia has two airports: Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) and George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU). Here is some information about the facilities and amenities at each airport.
Hewanorra International Airport (UVF)
Hewanorra International Airport is the larger of the two airports in Saint Lucia. It is located near Vieux Fort Quarter, on the southern tip of the island, about 40 miles (64 kilometres) or 53.4 kilometres from Castries, the capital city. The airport handles 700,000 passengers a year and can accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A330. It offers daily flights from several airlines, providing convenient connections to and from Saint Lucia. From the United States, four airlines offer flights from Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Miami, New York City, Newark, and Philadelphia. From Canada, three airlines offer flights from Montreal and Toronto. The airport provides facilities and amenities including shopping, dining options, and parking. However, parking is limited, with only 100 spaces available. Disabled parking is also available, although it is recommended to contact the airport manager in advance to ensure availability.
George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU)
George F.L. Charles Airport is the smaller of the two airports and is located in Castries, the capital city of Saint Lucia. It primarily serves inter-island regional travel and is ideal for passengers embarking on island-hopping adventures or staying at resorts in the Caribbean. This airport offers a more compact and efficient experience, with facilities like snack bars and souvenir shops. It is closer to the Sandals Resorts than Hewanorra International Airport, making it a convenient choice for travellers from other Caribbean destinations.
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Frequently asked questions
Saint Lucia has two airports.
The larger airport in Saint Lucia is called Hewanorra International Airport and its code is UVF.
The smaller airport in Saint Lucia is called George F.L. Charles Airport and its code is SLU.
George F.L. Charles Airport is closer to the Sandals Resorts in Saint Lucia.
Hewanorra International Airport can handle 700,000 passengers a year.
