Roberta Aguirre
Saint Lucia, a lush, green gem of the Caribbean, is home to two airports: Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) and George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU). The former, located near Vieux Fort, is the larger of the two and is managed by the Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA). It is equipped with modern facilities and amenities, including shopping, dining, and parking options. George F.L. Charles Airport, on the other hand, is the smaller airport located in the capital city of Castries, serving inter-island regional travel. In this article, we will delve into the details of these airports, exploring their unique characteristics, accessibility, and the travel experiences they offer to visitors arriving in Saint Lucia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the airport | Hewanorra International Airport |
| Location | Vieux Fort Quarter, Saint Lucia, Caribbean |
| IATA Code | UVF |
| ICAO Code | TLPL |
| Distance from Castries | 53.4 km (33.2 mi) or 40 miles (64 km) |
| Passenger capacity | 700,000 per year |
| Aircraft accommodation | Boeing 747, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Boeing 777, and other long-range intercontinental jets |
| Maintenance provider | Caribbean Dispatch Services |
| Former name | Beane Army Airfield |
| Former function | Military airfield used by the United States Army Air Force |
| Year of activation | 1941 |
| Year of closure as a military base | 1949 |
| Current status | Serves as Saint Lucia's primary gateway for international travellers |
| Amenities | Shopping, dining, parking, rental cars, taxis, currency exchange |
| Airlines serving the airport | American Airlines, JetBlue Airlines, Air Canada, Transat, BWIA West Indies Airways, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Hewanorra International Airport (UVF)
Hewanorra International Airport (IATA: UVF, ICAO: TLPL) is located near Vieux Fort Quarter, on the southern tip of the island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean. It is the larger of the island's two airports, with the capacity to handle 700,000 passengers per year, and is managed by the Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA). The airport is approximately 53.4 km (33.2 mi) from the capital city, Castries.
Hewanorra International Airport was originally named Beane Army Airfield and was used as a military airfield by the United States Army Air Force during World War II. It was activated in early 1941 with the mission of defending St. Lucia and the Caribbean region against enemy attacks. After the war, the airfield was refurbished and converted into a commercial airport. The name "Hewanorra" is derived from an Amerindian word meaning "(land of the) iguana".
The airport has a single east-west runway, connected by two taxiways at its midsection, with turning bays at the end for back-tracking. Due to trade winds that typically blow northeast across St. Lucia, aircraft usually arrive and depart in a westerly direction. On rare occasions, weather disturbances such as hurricanes or tropical systems may force planes to take off or land from the west. The airport is equipped with RNAV, VOR/DME, and NDB approaches.
Hewanorra International Airport can accommodate a variety of long-range intercontinental jet aircraft, including Boeing 747, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, and Boeing 777. Aircraft maintenance is provided by Caribbean Dispatch Services. The airport has seven parking positions: two for wide-body aircraft, two behind those, and three for medium-sized aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 757. While short-term parking is available for free, long-term parking is uncommon and may require contacting the airport manager.
There are plans to expand and upgrade the airport to accommodate St. Lucia's growing tourism industry. Proposals include the construction of a new terminal building that is more than twice the size of the current facility, with 6 to 8 jet bridges and up to 13 parking positions, including one capable of handling the Airbus A380. Additionally, there are plans to recommission a disused concrete runway built by the American military during World War II as a taxiway for cargo operations and access to hangars.
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George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU)
George F.L. Charles Airport, also known as Vigie Airport, is the smaller of the two airports in St. Lucia, the other being Hewanorra International Airport. It is located 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Castries, the capital city of St. Lucia. The airport was renamed on 4 August 1997 in honour of Saint Lucia politician Sir George Frederick Lawrence Charles (1916–2004). The airport had previously been known as Vigie Field.
George F.L. Charles Airport is managed by the Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA). Its runway runs parallel to a popular tourist attraction, Vigie Beach, a pristine beach. The airport currently has no scheduled jet service, and all jet services into St. Lucia operate via Hewanorra International Airport. On average, George F.L. Charles 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.
British West Indies Airways (BWIA) was serving Vigie Field as early as 1950 with flights operated one or more days of the week to Barbados, Grenada, Port of Spain, Trinidad, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Antigua, and St. Kitts, operated with Lockheed Lodestar prop aircraft. By 1965, BWIA was operating daily flights into the airport with Vickers Viscount turboprop airliners. In 1995, Carib Express was operating British Aerospace BAe 146-100 jet flights into the airport nonstop from Barbados, Dominica, and St. Vincent.
The airport offers an RNAV and NDB approach only on Runway 9. Landings on Runway 27 are strictly visual. On 8 November 2015, a Beechcraft Model 99 veered off the runway into a grassy area at George F. L. Charles Airport after the aircraft's right landing gear malfunctioned. The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not harmed.
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Location and access
Saint Lucia is a lush, green gem of the Caribbean, with striking Piton Mountains, sun-kissed beaches, and cascading waterfalls. Tucked into the Eastern Caribbean, it is surrounded by vibrant neighbours like Barbados, Saint Vincent, and Martinique. The island is served by two airports: Hewanorra International Airport (IATA: UVF, ICAO: TLPL) and George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU).
Hewanorra International Airport is located near Vieux Fort Quarter on the southern cape of the island, about 53.4 km (33.2 mi) from Castries, the capital city of Saint Lucia. It is the larger of the two airports and is managed by the Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA). The airport is a Fire Category 9 facility that handles 700,000 passengers a year and can accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A330. The airport offers modern facilities and amenities, including shopping, dining options, and parking. It is served by a vast number of airlines and has direct flights from locations across the US East Coast, Canada, and the UK.
George F.L. Charles Airport, also known as Castries Airport or Vigie Airport, is located in the north of Saint Lucia, just outside the capital city of Castries. It is the smaller of the two airports and primarily serves inter-island regional travel. The airport is ideal for guests embarking on island-hopping adventures or staying at resorts in the Caribbean. It is served by three regional airlines and sees around 32,000 flights annually. The airport offers facilities like snack bars and souvenir shops.
Both airports offer rental cars as well as taxis, and airport transfers to and from resorts are included in Saint Lucia vacation packages for all guests. The furthest resorts are just around an hour and a half away. For a quicker arrival, consider booking a helicopter transfer for a scenic introduction to the island from the sky.
Hewanorra International Airport was originally named Beane Army Airfield and was used as a military airfield by the United States Army Air Force during World War II. The former military airbase was then refurbished and converted into a commercial airport. There is a disused northeast-southwest runway north of the main east-west runway that was part of the military airfield.
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History of St. Lucia's airports
St. Lucia has two airports: Hewanorra International Airport (IATA: UVF, ICAO: TLPL) and George F. L. Charles Airport.
Hewanorra International Airport, located near Vieux Fort Quarter, is the larger of the two airports. It was established as a military airfield during World War II and was originally called Beane Field, later Beane Air Force Base, and was used by the US Air Force until the late 1940s. In 1949, it was handed over to the local government, refurbished, and converted into a commercial airport. The airport's name is an Amerindian word meaning "land of the iguana".
In 1965, BWIA West Indies Airways introduced Boeing 727-100 "Sunjet" service into the airport, flying a round trip from Port of Spain, Trinidad, to Miami, with stops in St. Lucia and other destinations in the Caribbean. By 1971, BWIA was operating Boeing 707 jet service on a similar route. During the mid to late 1970s, British Airways, BWIA, and Eastern Airlines were operating jet services into the airport, with British Airways offering nonstop flights from London Heathrow.
In 1995, several airlines were operating nonstop or direct flights to Hewanorra International Airport from destinations such as New York, Toronto, London, Frankfurt, and Zurich. Today, the airport can accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A330, and it handles 700,000 passengers annually.
The smaller airport, George F. L. Charles Airport, is located in Castries, the capital city of St. Lucia. It handles inter-Caribbean passenger flights operated by regional turboprop aircraft and smaller prop aircraft.
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Airlines and destinations
St. Lucia is served by two airports, with the airport codes UVF and SLU.
Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) is the larger of St. Lucia's two airports and is located near Vieux Fort, about 53.4 km (33.2 miles or 40 miles) from the capital city, Castries. It is the primary gateway for international travellers, offering modern facilities and amenities, including shopping, dining options, and parking. UVF is served by a vast number of airlines and sees around 700,000 passengers annually. It offers direct flights from locations across the US East Coast, including Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Miami, New York City, Newark, and Philadelphia. Four airlines operate flights to St Lucia from these locations, including American Airlines and JetBlue Airlines. The airport also has direct flight connections with Canada and the UK. For example, Air Canada operates flights from Toronto, and travellers from Europe can find direct flights from London and Manchester, UK.
Historically, BWIA West Indies Airways introduced a weekly Boeing 727-100 "Sunjet" service to the airport in 1965, flying a round trip that included St. Lucia. By 1971, BWIA was operating a Boeing 707 jet service, and in 1995, the airline operated nonstop McDonnell Douglas MD-80 services from New York JFK Airport four days a week.
Hewanorra International Airport is equipped with RNAV, VOR/DME, and NDB approaches, and it houses the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority's Hewanorra Outstation. The airport can accommodate large aircraft, including the Boeing 747 and various Airbus models, such as the A330 and A340.
The smaller of St. Lucia's two airports is George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU), located in the capital city of Castries. It primarily serves inter-island regional travel and is ideal for those embarking on island-hopping adventures or staying at nearby Caribbean resorts. This airport handles regional flights within the Caribbean and is a good option for those connecting from other Caribbean islands. It is served by three regional airlines and sees approximately 32,000 flights annually.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport code for Hewanorra International Airport is UVF.
The airport code for George F.L. Charles Airport is SLU.
Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) is the larger of the two airports and the only one serving international flights.
Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) is the primary gateway for international travellers to St. Lucia.
