Ruth Haines
St Barts, officially known as Saint Barthélemy, is a Caribbean island and one of four Leeward Islands that comprise the French West Indies. Its airport, St Barts Airport, also known as Rémy de Haenen airport, Saint Barthélemy Airport, Remy de Haenens Airport, St. Jean Airport, and Gustaf III Airport, has the airport code SBH. The airport is known for its short runway, which is surrounded by mountains on three sides and ends on the beach.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | St Barts' Gustaf III Airport |
| Other Names | St Barts Airport, Saint Barthélemy Airport, Remy de Haenens Airport, St. Jean Airport, Aéroport de Saint-Barthélemy-Rémy-de-Haenen, Gustav III Airport |
| Location | St. Jean, Saint Barthélemy (St Barts), Caribbean |
| ICAO Code | TFFJ |
| IATA Code | SBH |
| Runway Length | 2100-2170 feet |
| Airlines | Tradewind Aviation, Windward Express, Trans Anguilla Airways, St Barth Commuter, Winair, Air Caraibes, Air France, Alitalia, KLM, Air Canada, Westjet, Copa Airlines, Aerologic, Air Turks and Caicos, Seaborne Airlines, Airbus |
| Aircraft | Pilatus PC-12, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, Douglas DC-3, DHC-7, AIRBUS - AS 350 B2 |
| Annual Passengers | 140,000 |
| Operating Hours | 8 AM to 6 PM |
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What You'll Learn
St Barts Airport's runway
St Barts Airport, also known as Gustaf III Airport, Saint Barthélemy Airport, Remy de Haenens Airport and St. Jean Airport, has one of the shortest runways in the world. The runway is just over 2,100 feet (646 meters) in length, which means that only small prop planes are able to land. Even the smallest jet-engined plane cannot land on the runway. The runway is surrounded on three sides by mountains, and it ends on the beach.
The descent onto the runway has been described as a "thrill ride". Planes fly over the hilltops and then rapidly descend onto the runway. The airport has a reputation for being a dangerous place to land, but since it opened in 1984, there have only been six incidents and one accident with a fatality in 2001. Its safety record is better than most other Caribbean or US airports. Pilots who want to land at St Barts Airport are required to obtain a special certification for short take-off and landing flights.
The approach to the runway is right over one of the island's main roads, so it is normal for people to pull over and take pictures or videos when a plane is approaching. There is a beach on one side of the runway and one of the island's main roads on the other, so seeing planes landing and taking off is very much part of the island experience. The single runway is located at the base of a gentle slope. The arrival descent into runway 10 is extremely steep over the hilltop traffic circle, and departing planes fly over the heads of sunbathers.
The airport does not have lights on the runway, and the surrounding hills would make instrument-only landings difficult, so there are no nighttime departures or arrivals. The airport is open daily between 7 am and 15 minutes after sunset (generally between 6 pm and 8 pm depending on the time of year).
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How to get to St Barts
St Barts, officially known as Saint Barthélemy, is a French island in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Its airport, Gustaf III Airport (IATA: SBH, ICAO: TFFJ), is known for its short runway, which is just over 2,100 feet long and surrounded by mountains on three sides. Due to the short runway, only small propeller planes are able to land at the airport.
By Air
St Barts can be accessed by air through nearby connecting airports such as Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the island of St Maarten, which is approximately 16 miles away. Other nearby airports include those in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe; Antigua; and St Thomas, USVI. From these connecting airports, travellers can take short flights, usually around 15 minutes, to St Barts. It is recommended to book connecting flights on the same reservation to ensure baggage is routed to St Barts and avoid claiming and rechecking baggage during connections.
By Ferry
An alternative option is to take a ferry from St Martin to St Barts. The ferry ride is approximately 30 to 45 minutes but can be bumpy and uncomfortable due to choppy waters. This option may be preferable for those who are extremely afraid of small planes or prone to seasickness.
From Europe
For travellers coming from Europe, non-stop flights are available from Paris, France, to Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, with connections to St Barts. There are also weekly direct flights from London, UK; Frankfurt, Germany; and Madrid, Spain.
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St Barts Airport's history
St Barts Airport, also known as Gustaf III Airport, is located in Saint Barthélemy, an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The airport is based in 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 opened in 1984 and has one of the shortest runways in the world, at just over 2,100 feet. The runway is surrounded on three sides by mountains and ends on the beach. Because of this, only small prop planes are able to land at St Barts Airport, and pilots are required to obtain a special certification for short take-off and landing. The most common types of aircraft flying in for commercial service include the Pilatus PC-12, Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, and Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander.
The airport has a reputation for being a dangerous place to land due to its short runway and steep descent over the hilltop. However, since its opening in 1984, there have only been six incidents and one accident with a fatality in 2001. The airport's safety record is better than most other Caribbean or US airports.
St Barts Airport is the island's only airport, and most visitors arrive by plane due to the frequency of air service and easy connectivity to connecting flights. Approximately 140,000 passengers arrive by air each year, with many travellers flying to St Maarten or San Juan, Puerto Rico, to connect to St Barts.
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St Barts Airport's location
St Barts Airport, also known as Gustaf III Airport, Saint Barthélemy Airport, Remy de Haenens Airport, and St. Jean Airport, is located in the Village of St. Jean, in the north-central part of the island of Saint Barthélemy. The IATA code for the airport is SBH, and the ICAO code is TFFJ.
Saint Barthélemy, also known as St Barts, is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It is one of four Leeward Islands that comprise the French West Indies. The island became an overseas collectivity of France in 2007.
Gustaf III Airport is located at the island's second-largest town, St. Jean. The arrivals area is within walking distance of St Jean beach and is just a 6-minute drive from the capital city of Gustavia. The airport has one of the shortest runways in the world, at just over 2,100 feet (646 meters). The runway is surrounded by mountains on three sides and ends on the beach. Due to the short runway, only small prop planes can land at the airport, and there are no nighttime departures or arrivals due to the lack of runway lights.
Most visitors fly to St Barts from St Maarten, with Princess Juliana International Airport being the closest major airport, just 16 miles away. However, there are also non-stop flights to St Barts from various other locations, including San Juan, Puerto Rico; Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe; Antigua; and St Thomas, USVI. Additionally, ferry services are available from Marigot, Simpson Bay, and Philipsburg on the nearby island of Saint-Martin/Sint-Maarten.
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St Barts Airport's safety record
The airport code for St. Barts, officially known as Saint Barthélemy Airport, is SBH. This small but busy airport is located in the Caribbean, serving the island of Saint Barthélemy. With a single runway and a unique approach, SBH presents an interesting challenge for pilots, and its safety record warrants a closer look.
Saint Barthélemy Airport is renowned for its short runway, which is just 2,100 feet long. This presents a unique set of challenges and has earned the airport a reputation for being one of the most challenging in the world for pilots. The short runway length limits the types of aircraft that can operate at the airport, with only smaller turboprop and piston-powered planes being able to use the facility. This already adds an element of safety, as larger commercial jets, which often have more complex safety records, cannot operate here.
The airport's location and surrounding terrain also contribute to its safety profile. SBH is situated on a small plateau, with hills and mountains surrounding it on three sides. This means that the approach and departure paths are quite steep and require precise navigation. Only highly skilled and experienced pilots certified to fly into SBH are allowed to operate here, and they must undergo specialized training for this specific airport. The challenging approach has resulted in several incidents over the years, with pilots missing the runway or having to abort landings. However, thanks to the airport's safety protocols and the skill of the pilots, these incidents rarely result in anything more than a missed landing or a go-around.
Despite the challenges, Saint Barthélemy Airport has an impressive safety record. There have been no major accidents or incidents resulting in loss of life or significant damage in the airport's history. This is a testament to the rigorous safety measures in place and the skill and training of the pilots who fly into SBH. The airport authorities have implemented strict guidelines and protocols, ensuring that only qualified pilots and suitable aircraft operate from this facility.
In addition to the challenging approach and departure paths, SBH also experiences strong winds and turbulent conditions due to its location in the Caribbean. While these weather patterns can make operations more complex, they are carefully monitored and assessed, with strict guidelines dictating safe wind speeds for landings and takeoffs. The airport's small size also means that ground operations are relatively straightforward, with quick turnarounds and efficient ground handling further enhancing the airport's safety profile.
In summary, despite the unique challenges presented by Saint Barthélemy Airport, its safety record remains exemplary. The combination of skilled pilots, rigorous training, specialized aircraft, and strict safety protocols ensures that travelers can fly into and out of SBH with confidence. The airport's reputation for being challenging has, in a way, contributed to its impressive safety statistics, as it demands a high level of proficiency and adherence to procedures at all times.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport code for St. Barts Airport, also known as Rémy de Haenen airport, is SBH.
St. Barts Airport is also known as Gustaf III Airport, Saint Barthélemy Airport, Remy de Haenens Airport, and St. Jean Airport.
St. Barts Airport has a reputation for being dangerous due to its short runway, which is surrounded on three sides by mountains and ends on the beach. However, since the airport opened in 1984, there have only been six incidents and one accident with a fatality.
Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the nearby island of St. Maarten is the closest major airport to St. Barts. It is approximately 16 miles away, and it is a 15-minute flight from St. Maarten to St. Barts.
Popular routes to St. Barts include non-stop flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Antigua. There are also flights from Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, and St. Thomas, USVI. For European visitors, there are non-stop flights from Paris to Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, with a connection to St. Barts.
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