St Barth Commuter
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St Barth's Commuter landing in St Maarten
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Pilots at St Barth's Commuter
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Personnel at St Barth Commuter
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Cessna Caravan C208 landing
- Category
- Caribbean Regional Airlines
At a glance
St Barth Commuter is the only airline with a home base in St Barths and one of just a handful that have permission to land on the island, which needs special certification because of its short runway. The company operates five aircraft equipped for STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) and they can carry between seven and nine passengers (nine on a day trip).
- Best for:
- Scheduled flights St Barths/St Martin/St Maarten, Private Charter
Flies from/to:
Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada and Carriacou, Nevis, St Barths, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Martin/St Maarten, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Puerto Rico (San Juan & Vieques), Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo)
Key features
Two CESSNA CARAVAN, ideal for longer flights – capacity 7 passengers charter or 9 schedule service and three BN2 BRITTEN NORMAN ISLANDER - PILATUS designed for flying over water and landing on short runways – capacity 7 passengers charter or 8 passengers schedule services.
Journalist’s Review
In Depth
St Barth Commuter run several daily scheduled flights into St Barths from the nearby island of St Martin (both the French and Dutch sides). It is the most convenient transit point for getting to St Barths and is just ten minute’s flight away. If you are arriving in the Caribbean at another regional hub, say Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands (from the USA) or Antigua (often used by UK travellers), and need an onward transfer to St Barths, then they can offer the transfer by private charter.
The advantage of a private charter is that you can travel at your convenience, rather than being constrained by regional schedules (which in the Caribbean do quite often get delayed). St Barths Commuter will find out if there is a delay on your incoming international leg, and will arrange to be there for your arrival. Another advantage is that the pilot can meet you airside, or just the other side of Immigration (depending on the airport). You will be collected and escorted to collect your bags and then taken back out onto the apron rather than going through into the Arrivals Hall. And finally, most convenient of all, your charter simply leaves when you are ready, which in turn means that you are able to reach your destination more quickly.
Equally, if you are island hopping, perhaps on a two-centre holiday, then the company is able to transfer you from one island to the other. They are also happy to offer sight-seeing trips and day trips to other islands. St Barth Commuter offer private charters to almost all the islands in the Eastern Caribbean, flying to islands as far south as Barbados and Grenada and west to the Dominican Republic.
St Barth Commuter, which has been in operation since 1995, owns and operates its own fleet of aircraft. The company, which is headed up by Bruno Magras (also currently mayor of St Barths), has a staff of around 35 people. There are seven pilots, who are of course all trained to land on St Barths’ small airstrip and speak both French and English. They make the landing many times each day and so they are extremely experienced. If you would like to see what the landing is like you can download a video clip of it from their website. St Barth Commuter is a local French airline, but it is also authorized with the FAA to land in US airports. In the Caribbean these include the US Virgin Islands of St Thomas and St Croix and of course San Juan in Puerto Rico.
Fleet
St Barths Commuter operates five aircraft, all of which are equipped and licensed to land at difficult airstrips, such as the unusual approach and short runway in St Barths. Aircraft details are as follows:
CESSNA CARAVAN
Ideal for longer flights
Number in fleet : 2
Registration : F-OSBH and F-OSBC
Characteristics : Single turbine engine, single pilot, fixed landing gear
Capacity : 7 passengers charter (462lbs/210 kg maximum baggage allowance) or 9 passenger scheduled services (maximum 10kg cabin + 20kg checked baggage per passenger)
Maximum speed : 170 Knots (195 mph)
Dimensions : 31' length - 37' wingspan - 10.5' height
BRITTEN NORMAN ISLANDER - PILATUS
Designed for flying over water and landing on short runways
Type : BN2 Britten Norman Islander - Pilatus
Number in fleet : 3
Registrations : FOIJS (BN2 - B20) - FOHQY (BN2 - B20) - FOIJU (BN2 - B20)
Characteristics : Twin-engine, single pilot, fixed landing gear
Capacity : 7 passengers charter (462 lbs/210 kilos maximum baggage) or 8 passengers schedule service (maximum 10kg cabin + 20kg checked baggage per passenger)
Maximum speed : 130 Knots (150 mph)
Dimensions : 36' length - 49' wingspan - 14' height
St Barth Commuter is a local French airline (Air Operator Certificate No F-AG019 since April 18, 1995 which is authorizad by the FAA under the agreement FAA PART 129 Operations Specification OPS No UXOFO89F since January 21, 2005 to operate US Virgin Islands such as St Thomas and St Croix and San Juan Puerto Rico.
The St Barth Commuter maintenance agreement is: EASA PART 145 No FR-145-287 since November 26, 2004.
Scheduled Flights
The airline operates the following scheduled flights:
Between St Barth (SBH) and St Martin (SFG) - Espérance Airport, Grand Case.
Monday - Saturday
Depart St Barth at 8am, 8.15am, 4pm, 5pm
Depart St Martin, Grand Case at 8.30am, 9.30am, 4.30pm, 5.30pm (or 5.15pm from Nov-Jan)
Sunday
Depart St Barth at 4pm, 5pm
Depart St Martin, Grand Case at 4.30pm, 5.30pm (or 5.15pm from Nov-Jan)
Between St Barth (SBH) and Sint Maarten (SXM) - Princess Juliana International Airport at Simpson Bay
Daily:
Depart St Barth at 10.30 am, 12 pm, 1pm and 1.45pm
Depart St Maarten at 1.15pm, 3pm, 3.30pm and 4.30pm (for in-transit passengers only) Schedules are subject to change, therefore please check availability online.
FARES FOR SCHEDULED FLIGHTS SBH-SFG (taxes included):
Round-trip, adult* : 130 Euros
One-way, adult : 65 Euros
Round-trip, child ** : 90 Euros
One-way, child : 45 Euros
FARES FOR SCHEDULED FLIGHTS SBH-SXM (taxes included):
Round-trip, adult* : 140 Euros
One-way, adult : 70 Euros
Round-trip, child ** : 100 Euros
One-way, child : 50 Euros
No charge for children under two years of age if they travel on a parent's lap. * Adult : 12 years and older. ** Child : 2 - 11 years.
The authorized luggage weight for scheduled flights is limited to 20 kilos checked baggage per passenger and 10 kilos for cabin baggage.
All prices and schedules subject to change without notice.
Private Air Charter Rates
Please see St Barth Commuter's website for all PRIVATE CHARTER FLIGHT rates (to or from pretty much any island in the Caribbean). Sample charter rates in Euros for 2012-2013 including tax: from €800 to Anguilla, €850 to St Kitts, €1100 to Antigua, €1400 to Tortola, BVI and €1600 to St Thomas/St Croix, USVI during the low season.
Reservations
Reservations can now be made for St Barth Commuter ON-LINE through their website.
See St Barth Commuter's website for SCHEDULED FLIGHTS between St Maarten (both Dutch and French sides) and St Barths. Schedules and prices are shown above. If no flight is shown at the time you require you will need to book a private charter.
See St Barth Commuter's website for PRIVATE CHARTER FLIGHTS (to or from pretty much any island in the Caribbean).
St Barth Commuter ask that all bookings are made on-line (please do not send reservations by email). The airline will send a confirmation with procedures to be followed.
