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St Barts Airport, also known as Gustaf III Airport, Rémy de Haenen Airport, Saint Barthélemy Airport, or St. Jean Airport, is located in St. Jean, the second-largest town on the island of St. Barts. The airport has one of the shortest runways in the world, at just over 2,100 feet, which can only accommodate small prop planes. The airport is known for its thrilling short landing and has an excellent safety record. It is one of the most unique airfields in the Caribbean and sees approximately 140,000 passengers annually.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Gustaf III Airport, Rémy de Haenen Airport, St Barts Airport |
| Location | St. Jean, St. Barthélemy |
| Runway Length | 2,119 feet (646 meters) |
| Aircraft Capacity | 19-20 passengers |
| Airlines | Windward Express, Trans Anguilla Airways, Tradewind Aviation, St Barth Commuter, Air Antilles Express, Winair |
| Aircraft Models | De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, Pilatus PC-12, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter, Cessna Grand Caravan, Airbus AS 350 B2 |
| Travel Options | Plane, helicopter, private jet, ferry, private boat |
| Notable Features | Dramatic approach, steep descent, proximity to beach |
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What You'll Learn
- St Barts' Gustaf III Airport is one of the most unique airfields in the Caribbean
- The airport has one of the shortest runways in the world, at just over 2,100 feet
- Only small prop planes can land at St Barts Airport
- The airport is located at the island's second-largest town, St. Jean
- The airport is named after Rémy de Haenen, an aviation pioneer and later mayor of Saint Barthélemy
St Barts' Gustaf III Airport is one of the most unique airfields in the Caribbean
St Barts Gustaf III Airport is located in St. Jean, the second-largest town on the island of St Barts. The airport is named after King Gustav III of Sweden, who acquired the island from France in 1784. The terminal building was inaugurated in 1984 by the Swedish Minister of Communications, Hans Gustafsson. In 2015, the airport was renamed Aéroport de Saint-Barthélemy-Rémy-de-Haenen, after Rémy de Haenen, an aviation pioneer and later mayor of Saint Barthélemy.
St Barts Gustaf III Airport is known for its unique approach and dramatic descent, making it a reason in itself to visit the island. The airport has a single runway, which is 2,119 feet (646 meters) long. Due to the short length of the runway, only smaller prop planes, such as the 19-seat Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter, can land at the airport. The most common aircraft flying into St Barts for commercial service are the Pilatus PC-12, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, and Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander.
The approach to the airport is quite steep, with the runway ending directly on the beach. The hilltop at the end of runway 10 was lowered between 2003 and 2005 to provide a clearer view for pilots on the final approach and to allow car traffic to pass less directly under the flight path. Small signs advise sunbathers not to lie directly at the end of the runway, as departing planes fly right over the heads of those on the beach.
For visitors from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and most European countries, the best way to reach St Barts is by flying into San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then taking a connecting flight to St Barts. Visitors from Europe can also fly directly to St Maarten and then take a connecting flight or ferry to St Barts.
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The airport has one of the shortest runways in the world, at just over 2,100 feet
St Barts Airport, also known as Rémy de Haenen airport, formerly known as Gustaf III Airport, is located at the island's second-largest town, St. Jean, and is named after King Gustav III of Sweden, under whom Sweden obtained the island from France in 1784. The airport is known for its unique approach, which is quite dramatic whether viewed from the ground or onboard a flight. The airport has one of the shortest runways in the world, at just over 2,100 feet. The short runway can only accommodate smaller prop planes, such as the 19-seat short takeoff and landing (STOL) Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter. The most common aircraft flying in for commercial service are the Pilatus PC-12, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, and Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander.
The short airstrip is at the base of a gentle slope ending directly on the beach. The arrival descent into runway 10 is extremely steep over the hilltop traffic circle, and departing planes fly right over the heads of sunbathers. Between 2003 and 2005, the hilltop at the end of runway 10 was lowered, and the road running up the hill was moved farther to the left to allow car traffic to pass less directly under the approach path to runway 10. This alteration also provided pilots with a clearer view on the final approach.
For those who are nervous about landing at St. Barts airport, alternative transport options include helicopter transfers, private boats, and ferry services. Ferries arrive from Sint-Maarten several times a day, and there are also private boats available for hire.
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Only small prop planes can land at St Barts Airport
St Barts Airport, also known as Rémy de Haenen airport, is located at the island's second-largest town, St. Jean. The airport is named after the aviation pioneer and later mayor of Saint Barthélemy, Rémy de Haenen, who first landed at the site in 1946.
St Barts Airport has a unique setup, with a beach on one side of the runway and one of the island's main roads on the other. The runway is extremely short, at 2,119 feet (646 meters) or 2,170 feet in length, and can only accommodate small prop planes. The most common aircraft flying in for commercial service are the Pilatus PC-12, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, and Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander.
The airport is considered one of the most challenging in the world due to its short runway and the steep descent required over a hilltop to land on the runway. Only a few certified pilots are qualified to fly this route, and they receive special training for it. The airport has a unique visual approach, with planes descending over the hilltop and landing just meters away from the beach.
For those travelling from further afield, the most common route is to fly into a larger airport, such as Princess Juliana International Airport in nearby Saint Maarten, and then connect to St Barts Airport on a smaller plane, helicopter, or ferry.
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The airport is located at the island's second-largest town, St. Jean
St Barts Airport, also known as Rémy de Haenen Airport, is located in the island's second-largest town, St. Jean. The airport was formerly known as Gustaf III Airport, named after King Gustav III of Sweden, under whom Sweden obtained the island from France in 1784. In 2015, the airport was renamed Aéroport de Saint-Barthélemy-Rémy-de-Haenen, honouring Rémy de Haenen, an aviation pioneer and later mayor of Saint Barthélemy.
The airport has a single runway, which is 2,119 feet (646 meters) long. This short runway can only accommodate smaller prop planes, such as the 19-seat short takeoff and landing (STOL) Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter. The most common aircraft flying into St Barts for commercial service are the Pilatus PC-12, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, and Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander.
The approach to St Barts Airport is quite dramatic, with a steep descent over a hilltop traffic circle. The airport's unique location and approach make it a reason to visit the island for some aviation enthusiasts. The runway is so close to the beach that small signs advise sunbathers not to lie directly at the end of the runway.
For those who prefer not to fly into St Barts, there are alternative transportation options. Ferries are available from Sint-Maarten, with multiple crossings scheduled daily and offering a slightly lower price than regular flights. Helicopter transfers and private boat charters are also possible.
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The airport is named after Rémy de Haenen, an aviation pioneer and later mayor of Saint Barthélemy
St Barts Airport, also known as Rémy de Haenen Airport, is named after Rémy de Haenen, an aviation pioneer and later mayor of Saint Barthélemy. De Haenen first landed on the site of what would become the airport in 1946. At the time, the area was used as pasture land for sheep. The airport is located in St. Jean, the island's second-largest town.
The airport's runway is 2,119 feet (646 meters) long and can only accommodate smaller prop planes, such as the 19-seat short takeoff and landing (STOL) Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter. The most common aircraft flying in for commercial service today are the Pilatus PC-12, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, and Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander.
The approach to the airport is quite dramatic, with a steep descent over a hilltop traffic circle. Departing planes fly right over the heads of sunbathers on the beach. The airport underwent a renewal between 2003 and 2005, which included lowering the hilltop at the end of runway 10 and moving the road running up the hill to improve pilot visibility on the final approach.
For visitors to St Barts, the most common way to reach the island is by connecting through another airport, such as San Juan in Puerto Rico or Princess Juliana Airport on St Maarten, and then taking a smaller plane, helicopter, or ferry to the island.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport in St. Barts is called Gustaf III Airport, also known as Rémy de Haenen Airport.
The single runway at St. Barts Airport is 2,119 feet (646 meters) in length.
Due to the short runway, only smaller prop planes, such as the 19-seat Viking Air DHC-6 Twin Otter, can land at St. Barts Airport.
The best way to reach St. Barts is by plane. Commercial or chartered flights are available from neighbouring islands, with connections from St. Maarten, Guadeloupe, San Juan, and Antigua. Alternatively, you can travel to St. Barts by ferry, private boat, or helicopter transfer.
