Exploring St. Thomas: Airport Access And Island Getaways

The Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is a public airport located on the island of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. It is the busiest airport in the United States Virgin Islands and one of the busiest in the eastern Caribbean. The airport operates one main runway that is 7,000 ft long and 150 ft wide. The terminal operates 11 gates and offers flights to various destinations, including Newark, Santo Domingo, Washington, Miami, Tampa, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, New York, and Basseterre. The airport is known for its unique location, sticking out into the bay, and has received praise for its friendly staff and convenient amenities, including the ability to purchase alcohol.

Cyril E. King Airport (STT)

The airport sits on about 280 acres of land and has one of the largest deep-water, dredged runways in the Caribbean. The asphalt runway measures 7,000 feet long by 150 feet wide (2,134 x 46 meters) and is one of the deepest man-made runways in the world. The two-story airport terminal, built in November 1990, measures 190,000 square feet on the first floor and 60,000 square feet on the top floor. The terminal operates 11 gates and is open from 6 am to 11 pm. Aircraft rescue and firefighting services are available during those times.

The airport was originally known as Mosquito Bay in 1927 and was the only facility serving the island of St. Thomas. The airstrip was renamed Bourne Field after the first person to fly non-stop from the United States to Nicaragua. In 1940, the US Navy ordered a major expansion of the base, which included extending and paving the runways. 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 and named after President Harry S. Truman.

In 1984, the airport was renamed 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 the runway was extended to its present length in 1992.

The airport's history

The airport serving St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands is known as Cyril E. King Airport (STT). It is a public airport located two miles west of the central business district of Charlotte Amalie, on the southwestern side of St. Thomas. 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. The two-story terminal, built in November 1990, has 11 gates across two departure areas.

The history of the airport dates back to the 1920s when it was a small airstrip known as Mosquito Bay, named after a nearby grassy swamp. In 1927, it was the only facility serving the island of St. Thomas. The swamp was later filled in, and the bay was renamed Lindbergh Bay after Charles Lindbergh used it to land the Spirit of St. Louis.

On January 22, 1928, the first passengers arrived in St. Thomas by air via a monoplane called La Nina, carrying its pilot and four passengers. The airstrip remained in civilian use until September 1, 1935, when it was purchased by the US government and renamed Bourne Field, after the first person to fly non-stop from the United States to Nicaragua. The field was expanded and paved to accommodate the US Marine Corps, with two 1,600-foot runways constructed.

In 1940, the US Navy ordered a major expansion of the base, which included further runway extensions and construction to accommodate a VMS-3 observation squadron. After World War II, the airport was turned over to the VI government when military operations in the territory ceased. The original terminal was a former military hangar constructed in the 1940s, and the airport was named Harry S. Truman Airport after the 33rd President of the United States.

On October 3, 1984, the airport was renamed Cyril E. King Airport in honour of Cyril Emmanuel King, the second elected governor of the US Virgin Islands. The airport has since become one of the busiest in the eastern Caribbean, serving not only St. Thomas but also nearby St. John and travellers to the British Virgin Islands.

Airlines and flights

St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands is served by the Cyril E. King Airport (STT), which is located two miles west of the central business district of Charlotte Amalie. It is the busiest airport in the United States Virgin Islands and one of the busiest in the eastern Caribbean. The airport also serves nearby St. John and is often used by those travelling to the British Virgin Islands.

The airport has one main runway and 11 gates. The runway is 7,000 ft by 150 ft (2,134 m by 46 m). The airport was originally known as Mosquito Bay in 1927, and the first passengers landed in 1928. It was renamed Bourne Field in 1935, and then renamed again in 1940 by the US Navy, who ordered a major expansion of the base. In 1984, the airport was renamed to honour Cyril Emmanuel King, the second elected governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A number of airlines operate flights to St. Thomas, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, JetBlue, United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines and Seaborne Airlines. Nonstop flights from New York to St. Thomas take about four hours, and the distance is about 1,627 miles from JFK and 1,647 miles from Newark. Flights from Fort Lauderdale to St. Thomas can be as cheap as $45 for a one-way ticket, and the average cost of a flight to St. Thomas is $411. Flights can also be found from Boston, Chicago, Dulles, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, and many other cities.

Passengers can also consider using charter and private flight options to fly in and out of Cyril E. King Airport, with companies such as AirFlamenco, Executive Jet Management, Flexjet, Jet Linx Aviation, Netjets, Standard Aviation, and Signature Aviation.

Airport facilities

The Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is a public airport located at No. 70 Lindbergh Bay on the southwestern side of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. It is approximately two miles west of the capital city, Charlotte Amalie. The airport is one of the busiest in the eastern Caribbean.

The airport sits on about 280 acres of land. Its asphalt runway, one of the deepest man-made runways in the world, measures 7,000 feet long by 150 feet wide (2,134 x 46 meters). 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 airport terminal is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aircraft rescue and firefighting services are available during that time. Airline ticketing and federal services (such as U.S. Customs and TSA) may close earlier than the terminal closing time.

The airport was originally known as Mosquito Bay in 1927, the only facility that served the island of St. Thomas. The bay was named after a nearby grassy swamp, which was renamed Lindbergh Bay after Charles Lindbergh used it to land the Spirit of St. Louis. The first passengers landed in 1928, and the airstrip remained in civilian use until it was purchased by the US government on 1 September 1935. The airstrip was renamed Bourne Field, after the first person to fly non-stop from the United States to Nicaragua. The US Navy ordered a major expansion of the base in 1940, which saw the extension and paving of the runways along with construction work to accommodate a VMS-3 observation squadron.

The airport was turned over to the VI government after the military ceased operations in the territory after World War II. The original airport terminal was an old military hangar constructed in the 1940s and the airport was named in honour of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States. On 25 March 1950, the Department of the Interior leased the land to the Virgin Islands, but the department cancelled the lease on 1 July 1954, citing violations of the agreement. As a result, the property was given to the US Virgin Islands Corporation. On 8 February 2020, Dolphin Water Taxi opened new facilities at the airport's baggage claim. In May 2023, a new provider of Water Taxi services to St John and The British Virgin Islands was launched, offering a pickup service right from baggage claim.

Travel tips

St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands is served by Cyril E. King Airport (STT), also known as Harry S Truman Airport until 1984. The airport is located two miles west of the central business district of Charlotte Amalie, the capital city of the Virgin Islands. It is the busiest airport in the United States Virgin Islands and one of the busiest in the eastern Caribbean.

• If you're travelling with an infant, be aware that STT does not have dedicated baby care amenities for breastfeeding and breast pumping.
• The airport is well-connected to the United States, with around 172 direct flights each week and 13 airports offering direct flights.
• When booking flights, consider being flexible with your travel plans, carrier, flight times, and dates to find the best deals. Compare prices across different airlines and airports, and consider booking in advance to secure lower prices.
• If you're looking for cheap flights, consider travelling during the low season, which is typically in September.
• For nearby airports, you can also check out Jose Aponte De La Torre Airport, Henry E Rohlsen Airport, Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, and the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport.
• The airport has been praised for its friendly staff and convenient location, with travellers able to purchase alcohol and enjoy it outside the airport.
• The airport has recently undergone several enhancements, including upgrades to terminals, lounges, and concession and shopping areas.
• STT operates one main runway that is 7,000 ft long and has 11 gates.

Frequently asked questions