Flying to Virgin Gorda: (see thumbnails below for a slide show)
There are no direct flights to the British Virgin Islands from North America or Europe; however its only one small hop on a turbo prop to either Virgin
Gorda (note: Virgin Gorda Airport closed for refurbishment and runway extension as at Feb. 2010 - tentative re-opening is November 2010) or Tortola’s Beef Island Airport (and then on a ferry from the airport/trellis bay to Virgin Gorda) from many of the islands in the Caribbean.
From the
USA,
Canada and
Europe via
San Juan PR (SJU) or St. Martin (SXM)
San Juan is a major international airport serving as American Airlines' Caribbean hub. St. Martin is a major destination for many European travellers. US Air, Delta, Spirit, Air
Canada, West Jet, Northwest, United, and many other regularly scheduled, charter and discount North American airlines have direct flights to SJU and SXM. San Juan is a major cruise ship departure harbor making it a very easy destination from most countries. For example Iberia Airlines flies to San Juan from Spain.
Once in San Juan or St. Martin there are a number of alternative carriers to get you to the BVI's. LIAT flies to Tortola (EIS) from St. Martin while both LIAT and American Eagle fly from San Juan into Tortola. Usually we would advise flying in to Virgin Gorda airport with Air Sunshine from San Juan but because the Virgin Gorda airport (VIJ) is closed on a temproary basis we recommend flying with either LIAT or American Eagle into Tortola and then taking the North Sound Express Ferry over to Virgin Gorda (Spnanish Town).
Scheduled Daily Normally there are flights (four times per day – during daylight hours only) made direct to Virgin
Gorda (VIJ) by Air Sunshine - Air Sunshine will also do charter flights if you have a different schedule in mind - www.airsunshine.com (note: if you book on Air Sunshine to Virgin Gorda while the airport is closed the plane will land at Beef Island Tortola - the BVI Tourist Authority will meet you and transfer you to a ferry from Trellis Bay (about 200 yards) at no extra charge.)
Daily flights from
San Juan to
Tortola's Beef Island Airport (EIS) are scheduled by American Eagle, LIAT,
Cape
Air and Air Sunshine.
Charter carriers such as Fly BVI, Virgin Gorda Air Charters and Island Birds also make the flight to Virgin
Gorda (see note above) or Tortola from
San Juan during daylight hours: See www.virgingordaaircharters.com , www.fly-bvi.com or www.islandbirds.com for direct links to their websites. Chartering twin engined and single engined planes operated by US government certified charters and scheduled airlines companies is economical if you have a group of five or more people arriving at the same time into San Juan. Virgin Gorda Air Charters' rates are very competitive with Air Sunshine and you have the added bonus of a plane waiting for you as you arrive in San Juan. If you tend to a more exciting trip to BVI, Island Helicopters offers helicopter flights direct to Virgin Gorda's Airport - see www.islandhelicopters.com
Tips about navigating San Juan airport are located here: http://adagiovilla.com/faqs.php
An alternate route for travelers to Virgin Gorda is via St. Thomas' Charlotte Amalie Cyril King airport (STT) - flying into St. Thomas provides two ways to get to Virgin Gorda:
Flying:
From
St. Thomas to Virgin Gorda via Air Sunshine - several flights per day (see note above)
From St. Thomas to Tortola (
Beef
Island airport - EIS) - Daily scheduled flights with LIAT and Air Sunshine
Ferry:
Several ferry companies operate out of Charlotte Amalie and go to Tortola a few times each day and three days a week route directly to Virgin Gorda. Visitors must take a taxi from the St. Thomas airport to the dock in Charlotte Amalie. Many people prefer this route because they start to relax the minute they're on the ferry. The ferry ride does provide a sea level view of St. Thomas, St. John and many of the other islands in the Virgin Islands chain.
If in doubt about ferry services and times please click on the following link for a form that will simplify your ferry choices:
Flying in From Countries in
Europe
From the
UK
Departing from the
UK there are many low cost charter flights to
Antigua with tour operators such as Thompson. However most people travel with BWIA or British Airways to
Antigua. In addition connections can be made through Miami (MIA) via American Airlines and several other US and UK carriers. From
Antigua you can fly with LIAT, or other local charter companies direct to Tortola. LIAT's website is at http://www.liatairline.com/ .
From
Germany
Lufthansa has weekly flights to
Puerto Rico from
Frankfurt. BWIA and Lufthansa each have weekly flights to
Antigua. Additionally there is one weekly Lufthansa flight to St. Maarten (SXM).
From
Switzerland, Holland and France:
BWIA have flights from
Zurich to
Antigua
KLM have two flights a week from
Amsterdam to St. Maarten.
Air
France has 4 weekly flights and AOM French Airlines have 2 weekly flights to St. Maarten (SXM).
From Spain:
Iberia Airlines has flights several times a week from Madrid to San Juan.
