St Barth Commuter: Small plane, Short Flight and a Hell of a View

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Jun 25th 2010 at 2:02PM

There aren't many ways to get to St. Barthelemy, and your range of options shrinks with season and income. So, if you're heading out to this Caribbean island for a few days or more in the warmer months, you have only a handful of choices that don't include private aviation or yachts. On my recent trip to St. Barths, I flew St. Barth Commuter, an experience I won't soon forget.

I stepped out on the tarmac in St. Martin, fully expecting to find a small plane waiting for me, but I wasn't prepared for the tiny six-passenger contraption into which I would climb (note: it is safe). The pilot smiled comfortably, putting me and the other passengers at ease as we pulled ourselves into the plane for a flight that would last only 10 minutes or so. He was an old pro: during busy season, he'll make this run up to 17 times a day.

Most of the flight passed uneventfully, though it felt like we were flying in place at times, rather than moving forward. We made steady progress, however, and our destination soon came into view. Closing in on the coast, it became clear to me why pilots need a special license to land on St. Barths.

Vincent, our pilot, had to thread two hilltops during his approach, descend over a highway that wasn't terribly far below and land on a short runway that quite literally ended on the beach.

Passing between the hills and floating toward the runway, I could see a windsurfer in the water at 12 o'clock – directly in front of us. Neither he nor the pilot revealed any change in behavior, as if there were a tacit understanding of the ways of aviation on the island.

The plane ran the length of the runway before pulling a U-turn at the end and rumbling up to the terminal. The brief glimpse of the sea afforded during this process made it clear that there was no fence between the runway and the ocean.

In addition to being an affordable alternative for getting to St. Barths – you can book a flight for as little as €100 – St Barth Commuter has the added upside of delivering baggage faster than any other airline I've flown ... though that's pretty easy to pull off when there are only six people on the plane.

Disclosure: Eden Rock picked up the tab for this trip, and it would have been impossible to cover this destination otherwise, given the cost. Nonetheless, my opinions are my own – they're certainly not for sale at any price.

Tags: airline, airlines, caribbean, St Barths

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

George Simpson Jun 25th 2010 5:08PM

Spot-on description, Tom. Having made the same flight during my honeymoon two years ago, I can confirm that it is indeed an exciting and slightly nerve-racking experience. A sensation not unlike riding a kite in an unsteady wind ... a fitting way to begin a marriage, I suppose. Although regretably the spectacular Eden Rock did not pick up the tab, my wife and I ate a filling meal there, at the conclusion of which the waitress politely corrected my franglais "Je suis plein" to "Je suis rempli," a phrase we still use with each other when we've had enough.

Enjoy your travels - I look forward to hearing more about St. Barth's!