Twenty-one point seven nautical miles between two islands with no connection that is not by air or sea. It is a hop of minutes, and the catalogue has spent seven blocks explaining why that does not make it trivial. Quoted per aircraft on request.
Route facts
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin | Clayton J. Lloyd (AXA / TQPF), Anguilla |
| Destination | Gustaf III (SBH / TFFJ), St Barthélemy |
| Distance | 21.7 NM · 40 km |
| International | Yes |
| Destination runway | 646 m — takes no jets |
| Price | Quoted per aircraft on request |
Here there is no road to compare against
It is the structural difference between the two halves of this catalogue, and this route is its clearest case.
In Central America, a twenty-two-mile sector almost always has an overland alternative, and we almost always recommend it. Here there is none. Anguilla and St Barths are separated by open water, and there is no direct sea service between them.
The flight does not buy time: it enables the journey. It is the same category as Guanaja, not that of Papagayo.
The field accepts a limited set of aircraft approved for its runway: we confirm which one is assigned before booking.
Gustaf III takes no jets
Six hundred and forty-six metres of runway. That is shorter than Drake Bay, and the restriction is not on width but on the whole category: no jet lands here. The field accepts a limited set of aircraft approved for its runway: we confirm which one is assigned before booking.
For this particular route that matters less than it sounds, because twenty-two nautical miles do not call for a jet. But it defines the whole trip of anyone arriving from the mainland: coming from Miami or New York by jet means changing aircraft before this leg, usually at St Maarten.
St Maarten sits in the middle, and that changes the itinerary
| Leg | Distance |
|---|---|
| St Maarten – Anguilla | 10.3 NM |
| St Maarten – St Barths | 17.3 NM |
| Anguilla – St Barths | 21.7 NM |
The three islands form a small triangle, and St Maarten is the vertex with the large airport.
If your itinerary includes all three, the direct route between Anguilla and St Barths saves you returning to the centre. If it includes only two, you will probably pass through St Maarten anyway.
It crosses a border, unlikely as it looks
Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory; St Barths, a French overseas collectivity. Twenty-two nautical miles and two jurisdictions.
The formalities have their own deadlines, as on any international sector in the catalogue. Here the proportion is even sharper than at David–Puerto Jiménez: the paperwork lasts many times as long as the flight.
And a note on season
The Caribbean has sharply defined high-demand windows, and this triangle is among the places where fleet availability tightens most. Ground services at these fields are limited and vary by aerodrome and by hour.
With aircraft that must also be suitable for Gustaf III, the margin narrows further. Ask well in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a ferry between Anguilla and St Barths?
There is no direct sea service. They are separated by open water, and the flight does not save time: it enables the journey.
Can I fly by jet?
No. Gustaf III is 646 metres and takes no jets. Anyone arriving from the mainland by jet changes aircraft, usually at St Maarten. The field accepts a limited set of aircraft approved for its runway: we confirm which one is assigned before booking.
Does it cross a border?
Yes. Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory and St Barths a French collectivity: twenty-two nautical miles and two jurisdictions.
Should I route via St Maarten?
If your itinerary includes all three islands, the direct route saves returning to the centre. If only two, you will probably pass through anyway.
How long is the flight?
Twenty-one point seven nautical miles is minutes. The paperwork lasts many times as long as the flight.
Does the season matter?
A great deal. With aircraft that must also suit Gustaf III, the margin narrows. Ground services at these fields are limited and vary by aerodrome and by hour.