Flying to the British Virgin Islands

Overview

The BVI are one of those few Caribbean destinations served only by regional direct flights (scheduled and charters) to and from other islands, and nothing more. Indeed, even though the archipelago has a "main" airport logically located at Tortola, and two secondary ones (on Virgin Gorda and Anegada), the available runways can only accommodate small short-haul aircraft. Therefore, there are no direct flights from North America (even though most visitors are American and a Miami route is under study), Latin America, or Europe.

In short, for arrivals from North America or Europe, you will need to plan flights with connections. Generally, a good portion of North American traffic passes through Puerto Rico or the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands, which also serve as the "traditional" gateway to the British Virgin Islands with onward travel by plane or ferry. European traffic roughly follows the same routes, though for French travelers, it is also possible to transit occasionally via the French West Indies.

Types of flights

Local airlines

The archipelago has more or less officially several small local airlines, most of whose activities consist of charter or on-demand flights.

BVI Airways: After operating internal routes within the BVI (now suspended), the airline plans to eventually establish direct service between Tortola and Miami.

Clair Aero: A small airline based in Anegada and closely linked to Fly BVI. It offers scheduled service to Tortola and Saint Thomas with a single-engine aircraft capable of carrying three people or a twin-engine aircraft that can transport seven passengers.

Fly BVI: The airline specializes in on-demand flights and/or seasonal charters to around twenty neighboring islands.

Island Birds: One of the main charter companies in the Caribbean, serving the entire region.

VI Airlink: The only airline actually registered locally. Based at Beef Island (Tortola’s airport), it serves Antigua on a scheduled basis and provides charter or on-demand flights in the region.

Charters, scheduled flights, and low-cost options

Promotions and special offers

From France and Europe

From North America

While a possible (?) direct route from Miami is awaited, traffic from the USA or Canada primarily passes through Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

From the Caribbean

Most islands in the region have direct connections to Tortola, either through scheduled flights or charters. This includes the French West Indies—Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Saint Barthélemy (charters)—and especially Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten, with several airlines offering both scheduled and seasonal services.