This page does not give you a figure: it explains what yours depends on. And it starts by dissolving a question that matters less here than it usually does. On request per aircraft.
Miami or Fort Lauderdale: it barely matters
| Destination | From Miami | From Fort Lauderdale |
|---|---|---|
| Nassau | 159.7 NM | 158.2 NM |
| Providenciales | 502.4 NM | 503.8 NM |
| Grand Cayman | 394.8 NM | 412.5 NM |
Less than two nautical miles of difference to Nassau, and the three sit in the same order of magnitude. The two fields are 18.3 nautical miles apart.
This is the opposite of Belize, where the city's two airports decide nearly a quarter of the run to Caye Caulker. The rule is the same in both places; what changes is the length of the sector.
The shorter the sector, the more the departure airport weighs. Here the sectors are long, so it weighs nothing.
Choose on ground logistics: where you are, where you park, and which FBO suits you. The aircraft may need to reposition to the departure aerodrome, and that leg forms part of the quote.
What does decide
Range, from the first nautical mile. The Caribbean catalogue is not like the Central American one: there is no road to compare against, and the run is over open water.
| Destination | Distance |
|---|---|
| Nassau | 159.7 NM |
| Grand Cayman | 394.8 NM |
| Providenciales | 502.4 NM |
| Punta Cana | 791.7 NM |
| San Juan | 908.2 NM |
| St Martin | 1,062.8 NM |
A factor of seven between nearest and furthest. No aircraft category covers that whole band, so the destination decides the conversation. The specific aircraft is assigned on confirmation, based on passenger count, baggage and the destination field.
The season. The Caribbean has sharply defined high-demand windows, and from South Florida is where the fleet contraction shows most. Ground services at these fields are limited and vary by aerodrome and by hour.
The formalities. Every destination from this origin crosses a border, except San Juan, which is United States territory. Departure and entry formalities vary by country and need lead time; we coordinate them with every passenger’s details.
The exception worth knowing
San Juan, Puerto Rico, is 908.2 nautical miles away and has no international formalities.
For anyone heading to the Lesser Antilles, that makes it a possible transfer point with less paperwork than St Martin. It is worth comparing the two before fixing the route.
And a note about the north
Teterboro is 955.8 nautical miles from Miami, roughly the same as San Juan.
It is useful as a scale reference: when someone asks for "a short hop to the Caribbean", Nassau is 160 nautical miles and St Martin over a thousand. They are not remotely the same product.
Frequently asked questions
Miami or Fort Lauderdale?
It barely matters: less than two nautical miles of difference to Nassau. Choose on ground logistics. The aircraft may need to reposition to the departure aerodrome, and that leg forms part of the quote.
Why does the airport matter in Belize then?
Because the sectors there are short. The rule is the same: the shorter the sector, the more the departure airport weighs.
What decides the price then?
Range above all. Between Nassau (159.7 NM) and St Martin (1,062.8) there is a factor of seven, and no category covers that whole band.
Is any destination free of formalities?
San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 908.2 nautical miles: it is United States territory and has no international formalities.
Does the season matter?
A great deal. From South Florida is where the fleet contraction shows most in high-demand windows. Ground services at these fields are limited and vary by aerodrome and by hour.
Is the Caribbean a short hop?
It depends on the destination. Nassau is 160 nautical miles; St Martin over a thousand. They are not the same product.
Enquire
Ground services at these fields are limited and vary by aerodrome and by hour.