St Barths is one of the most sought-after winter destinations for New Yorkers, especially over Christmas and New Year. Its airport (SBH) has a very short runway and a steep approach, and jets cannot land there. The standard way in is a private jet to Princess Juliana in St Maarten (SXM), then a short connection to St Barths on a small turboprop or helicopter, or a boat. We plan both legs together so the connection is part of the trip.
| Airport | IATA / ICAO | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teterboro | TEB / KTEB | departure · 2,744 km to SXM | Business-aviation airport in New Jersey with no scheduled airline traffic, about 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan; the default choice for private flights to New York. |
| Westchester County, White Plains | HPN / KHPN | departure · 2,753 km to SXM | Alternative. |
| John F. Kennedy International | JFK / KJFK | departure · 2,712 km to SXM | Alternative. |
| Princess Juliana International, St Maarten | SXM / TNCM | arrival | St Maarten's main airport and the usual jet gateway for St Barths and Anguilla, with onward connections by turboprop, helicopter or boat. |
| St Barths | SBH / TFFJ | arrival · 2,768 km from TEB | St Jean airport on St Barthelemy; the runway is too short for jets, so travelers fly to St Maarten and connect by turboprop or helicopter. |
Source: OurAirports, great-circle.
| Class | Example (published range) | Verdict for 2,744 km | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light jet | Phenom 300 (3,650 km) | Non-stop | 4 h 10 |
| Midsize jet | Citation XLS+ (3,889 km) | Non-stop | 3 h 50 |
| Ultra-long-range jet | Global 6000, Falcon 8X, Gulfstream G650 (11,112 km) | Non-stop | 3 h 25 |
Rule: non-stop needs 15% range margin. Times are estimates.
6-8 passengers, 3,650 km of published range: 1.3 times this route.
See the aircraft ›13-19 passengers, 13,890 km of published range: 5.1 times this route.
See the aircraft ›| When | What happens | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-December to early January | The busiest weeks of the year on the island. | Book the jet and the connection to St Barths as early as possible. |
| June to November | Hurricane season in the Caribbean. | Travel is quieter; watch the forecast. |
Your dates and group size for St Barths.