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The Caribbean is a vast region comprising more than 7,000 islands and nearly 40 nations and territories. There are dozens of airports to choose from, some catering to international travel, while others are designed for island hopping. The Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico is the busiest airport in the region, while the Grand Bahama International Airport is small but serves a large number of passengers. Bermuda's L F Wade International Airport is the only airport in the country, serving as a gateway for luxury tourism and offshore finance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airports in the Caribbean | Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Princess Juliana International Airport, St Maarten; Cyril E King Airport, US Virgin Islands, St Thomas; L F Wade International Airport, Bermuda; Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Clayton J Lloyd International Airport, Anguilla; Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, British Virgin Islands; Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados; Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, U.S. Virgin Islands; Lynden Pindling International Airport, Nassau, Bahamas; Providenciales International Airport, Turks & Caicos; Grand Bahama International Airport; Juan Santamaría International Airport, Costa Rica; José Martí International Airport, Havana, Cuba |
| Location | The Caribbean, spread across the islands of Anguilla, Antigua, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Barbados, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Cuba |
| Notable Features | Beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, challenging topography, exclusive resorts, and stunning landings |
| Best For | Leisure travellers, luxury travellers, beachgoers, and those seeking a convenient entry point to nearby islands and cities |
| Not Suitable For | Quick layovers, budget travellers, and those looking for the cheapest international flights to nearby destinations |
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What You'll Learn
Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the primary international airport of Puerto Rico, serving the capital municipality of San Juan and its metropolitan area. It is named after Luis Munoz Marin, the first elected governor of the archipelago and island. The airport is situated about 4 to 7 miles (6.4 to 11.3 km) east of the Hato Rey business centre, the Condado resort area, the Old San Juan historic quarter, and the SIG secondary airport.
With around 13,247,382 million passengers in 2024, the airport is the busiest in the insular Caribbean and the 15th busiest in Latin America. It is also the busiest airport in the region for airline flights and private jet charter activity, serving as a popular gateway between the Caribbean and the United States. The airport accommodates around 30 airlines, offering services to both domestic and international destinations.
The airport covers an area of 1,600 acres (647 hectares) and is located in the beachfront resort and residential district of Isla Verde in the municipality of Carolina. It is just a few minutes from San Juan and offers passengers a range of tax-free shops and restaurants. The airport has undergone several upgrades over the years, including the addition of a new Terminal A, new pavement and expansions, new light systems, press conference rooms, and consolidated security areas.
The history of Luis Munoz Marin International Airport dates back to the 1940s when the Puerto Rican government recognised the need for a modern airport to accommodate the growing air traffic to and from the island. The previous main airport, San Juan International Airport in Isla Grande, had a runway that was too short for the newer jet aircraft. Luis Munoz Marin International Airport was opened in 1955 and has since been an essential gateway to Puerto Rico, contributing to the development of the local economy.
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Princess Juliana International Airport, St Maarten
Princess Juliana International Airport (IATA: SXM, ICAO: TNCM) is located on the Caribbean island of St. Martin, in the country of Sint Maarten, on the Dutch side of the island. The airport is named after Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who landed there in 1944, a year after the airport opened, when she was heir presumptive. It is considered one of the best airports in aviation, having won multiple awards, including Best Caribbean Airport in 2016 and the Bizz Award in 2017. The airport is known for its stunning landings, coming in very low over the water, and was voted the best airport approach by PrivateFly in 2013.
The airport is an important hub in the Caribbean, connecting airline flights, larger private jets, and smaller aircraft bound for more remote islands. It serves as a hub for Winair and is the major gateway to the smaller Leeward Islands, including Anguilla, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, and Sint Eustatius. The airport is located close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon and Maho Beach, which contributes to the low-altitude flyover landing approaches.
To accommodate the growing international and local traffic of private aircraft, the airport has undergone significant modernization. The original three-phased master plan, commissioned in 1997, included widening and strengthening the runway, constructing a new terminal, and improving various facilities. The new terminal building is a four-story structure with 30,500 square meters of floor space, 46 check-in desks, 10 transit desks, 13 boarding gates, 20 immigration booths for arrivals, and five exit-control booths for departures. The building also features 40 shops and food and beverage outlets.
The airport has faced challenges with aircraft accidents and incidents. In 1972, a De Havilland Canada Twin Otter operated by Air Guadeloupe crashed into the ocean near Sint Maarten, resulting in the deaths of all 11 passengers and both pilots. In 2014, a Skyway Enterprises flight crashed into the ocean southwest of the airport, killing both pilots. In 2017, a woman from New Zealand was knocked over by jet blast during takeoff and unfortunately died from her injuries.
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Cyril E King Airport, US Virgin Islands, St Thomas
The Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is located in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. It is named after the second elected governor of the US Virgin Islands, Cyril Emmanuel King. The airport is situated on the southwestern side of St. Thomas, approximately two miles west of the capital city, Charlotte Amalie. With 1,284 flights, it is the busiest airport in the US Virgin Islands and one of the busiest in the eastern Caribbean. It is a popular regional airport for airliners and can accommodate aircraft of all sizes. The airport's asphalt runway is one of the deepest man-made runways in the world, measuring 7,000 feet long and 150 feet wide (2,134 x 46 meters). The two-story airport terminal was completed in November 1990 and offers various services, including ticketing, federal services, and aircraft rescue and firefighting. The airport has a rich history, initially serving as an airstrip for civilian use before being purchased by the US government and later leased to the US Department of the Interior.
The Cyril E. King Airport has been through several name changes throughout its history. It was originally known as Mosquito Bay in 1927, named after a nearby grassy swamp. The swamp was later renamed Lindbergh Bay to honour Charles Lindbergh, who used it to land the Spirit of St. Louis. In 1940, the US Navy ordered a major expansion of the base, extending and paving the runways for use by a VMS-3 observation squadron during World War II. After the war, the airport continued to serve as a civilian airport, and in 1980, construction began on the current terminal building, which was completed in November 1990. The runway was also extended to its current length of 7,000 feet in 1992, making it one of the largest deep-water, dredged runways in the Caribbean.
Over the years, the Cyril E. King Airport has witnessed several notable incidents. In 1970, a Trans Caribbean Airways Flight made a hard landing, ran off the side of the runway, and resulted in a fire that sadly took the lives of two passengers. In 1976, an American Airlines Flight ran off the end of the runway, leading to the deaths of 37 out of 88 passengers. Additionally, in 1989, Hurricane Hugo caused significant damage to multiple aircraft parked at the airport, rendering them beyond economic repair. Despite these incidents, the airport has also hosted prestigious flights, including Air Force One and Two, carrying notable figures such as Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Joe Biden.
The Cyril E. King Airport provides essential connectivity to the US Virgin Islands, accommodating both luxury travellers seeking exclusive beach resorts and locals travelling for various purposes. Its busy schedule and ability to handle aircraft of all sizes make it a vital transportation hub in the eastern Caribbean region.
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L F Wade International Airport, Bermuda
L F Wade International Airport (IATA: BDA, ICAO: TXKF) is the only airport in Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is located in the parish of St. George's, 6 nautical miles (11 kilometres) northeast of Hamilton, Bermuda's capital city. The airport is 25 minutes away from the capital by car.
The airport was constructed during World War II and was initially used as Kindley Field, a joint US Army Air Forces (USAAF) and Royal Air Force (RAF) base. In 1970, the field was transferred to the United States Navy, which operated it as US Naval Air Station, Bermuda until 1995. The US Navy terminated its 99-year lease and transferred the field to the Bermuda Government, which now operates the airport as part of the Ministry of Tourism & Transport. On 16 April 2007, the airport was renamed L.F. Wade International Airport in honour of L. Frederick Wade, a former leader of the Progressive Labour Party.
L F Wade International Airport has one passenger terminal, one cargo terminal, eight aircraft stands, and a single runway. It can support all aircraft sizes, including the Airbus A380. Nine passenger or cargo airlines operate seasonal or year-round scheduled services from the Azores, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 2016, the airport handled 402,925 passengers, a 5.6% increase from 2006. In 2017, the airport served almost 500,000 passengers, with arrivals and departures usually peaking during the summer season (June-August).
The airport has received high marks in passenger satisfaction surveys, ranking first among North American airports in the "Under 15 Million Passengers" category in 2003. It also placed fourth worldwide in its size category in the same year, according to the global airport monitor report. The airport is managed and operated by Bermuda Skyport Corporation Limited, which was granted a 30-year concession in 2017. A new passenger terminal was completed in December 2020, replacing the previous one.
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Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Caribbean is home to several airports, including the Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport, also known as the Isla Grande Airport, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This airport is a popular choice for private charter flights to and from Puerto Rico. It is located in Miramar, next to San Juan's Convention District, Old San Juan, and the neighbourhood of Condado. The airport covers an area of 102 acres at an elevation of 10 feet above mean sea level.
Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport is also known for being the only military site for the San Juan Army Aviation Support Facility operated by the Puerto Rico Army National Guard (PRARNG). Their mission is to provide aviation maintenance support and repair to the Puerto Rico Army National Guard and other units, utilising aircraft such as UH-72 Lakota and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, as well as the Beechcraft C-12 Huron.
The airport has a significant history, having hosted the Coast Guard Air Station San Juan until 1971, when it relocated to the northwest coast of Puerto Rico. The airport was renamed in honour of United States Air Force Major Fernando Luis Ribas-Dominicci, an F-111 pilot who lost his life during Operation El Dorado Canyon in 1986.
Over the years, Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport has witnessed several incidents, including the crash of a Douglas C-39 aircraft in 1942, resulting in the tragic loss of all 22 passengers. In 1952, a Pan Am Flight experienced engine failure shortly after takeoff, leading to a crash into the sea and the deaths of 52 out of 69 passengers and crew. More recently, in 2017, an aircraft departing from the airport crashed into a nearby bay.
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Frequently asked questions
Puerto Rico’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) is the busiest airport in the region for airline flights and private jet charter activity.
Princess Juliana International Airport, St Maarten (SXM) offers one of the world’s most stunning landings, with aircraft coming in very low over the water.
Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) is the main airport gateway for Barbados and an important access point for the capital city of Bridgetown.
L F Wade International Airport (BDA) is the only airport in Bermuda, serving both private jets and airliners of all sizes.
Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, located on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a popular airport for private flights serving the region.
