Flying to Antigua and Barbuda

Overview

There is an airport on each of the two islands. Logically, it is Antigua’s airport that handles the vast majority of the country’s air traffic, with regional flights as well as connections to the rest of the Caribbean and Europe, primarily London. Each year, nearly a million passengers arrive at V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua (920,000 in 2012), which benefits from also being the main base for LIAT, a carrier traditionally well-established in the region. In contrast, the small airport on Barbuda only handles a few flights, including regular service to Antigua (ABM Air, Fly Montserrat) and occasional charters to St. Barth or Anguilla.

Types of flights

Local airlines

Antigua and Barbuda have three airlines bearing their colors, though only LIAT is of any significance—even if it is actually co-owned with Barbados and Saint Vincent.

• ABM Air: This small carrier operates just one regular route: Montserrat-Antigua-Barbuda (plus charters).

• Caribbean Helicopters: This company owns a Piper PA31-350 aircraft and two helicopters, serving destinations like Nevis, St. Kitts, and Anguilla.

• LIAT: At sixty years old, it is one of the region’s oldest carriers. With around a dozen aircraft, LIAT serves neighboring islands as well as Puerto Rico, covering a total of 17 destinations.

Charters, scheduled flights, and low-cost options

Promotions and special offers

From France and Europe

Within Europe, only London has regular flights, operated by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. There are also some seasonal or charter flights, mainly from England or Germany. However, there are no direct flights from France; options involve connections via London, the USA (with an ESTA required), or sometimes a Caribbean island like Guadeloupe. As a result, the journey from France can be quite long—at least fifteen hours with layovers—for prices ranging roughly from 580 to 980 € round trip.

From the rest of the Americas

In addition to a few European connections, North America and the rest of the Caribbean are the only regions with direct flights to Antigua. There are no direct flights from Central or South America.

• United States: Logically, it is the best-served country, with regular or seasonal flights including Miami (American) and New York (American, JetBlue, United).

• Canada: WestJet and Air Canada serve Toronto, with Air Canada also offering seasonal flights to Montréal.

• Caribbean: Trinidad & Tobago’s Caribbean Airlines and LIAT are the main providers of regional flights, connecting to Barbados, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, and about half a dozen other small islands. Santo Domingo is also on the route with LIAT and Pawa Dominicana.

• French West Indies: Guadeloupe and Saint Martin are the two French territories in the region with flights operated by LIAT. These flights are sometimes offered as connections for passengers arriving from mainland France.

As for Barbuda, its airport only handles a few flights, including regular service to Antigua (ABM Air, Fly Montserrat) and occasional charters to St. Barth or Anguilla.

V.C. Bird International Airport

This former U.S. airbase is the main airport in the archipelago and ranks in the top 20 Caribbean airports, with nearly a million passengers annually.

• Name: V.C. Bird International Airport

• IATA code: ANU

• Hub: LIAT and ABM Air

• Number of terminals: 1

• Annual passenger capacity:

• Passenger traffic: 920,000 (2012)

• Distance from city center: 8 km northeast of St John’s

• Website: http://vcbia.com

Services and transport

Barbuda Codrington Airport

This is Barbuda’s airfield, located near the village of Codrington, the island’s only one.

• Name: Barbuda Codrington Airport

• IATA code: BBQ

• Hub: No

• Number of terminals: 1

• Annual passenger capacity:

• Passenger traffic:

• Distance from city center:

• Website:

Services and transport

Additional information