St Barth Commuter
The island's homegrown airline for the legendary hop into SBH
Why Go
Skip the ferry queue and take the 10-minute puddle-jump that turns getting to St Barth into the first postcard of your trip. St Barth Commuter has been flying the Caribbean's most iconic approach since 1995, and locals swear by them over the bigger operators.
The Experience
You'll check in inside the tiny Rémy de Haenen terminal, walk across the tarmac, and climb into a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan with room for a handful of passengers and views straight into the cockpit. On the scheduled hop from Sint Maarten (SXM) — the workhorse route — you're in the air for about twelve minutes before the pilots crest La Tourmente hill, pitch the nose down over the traffic circle, and drop onto the 650-meter strip that ends at Baie de Saint-Jean. It's one of the world's most talked-about landings, but from inside the cabin it feels less like a stunt and more like a very intimate scenic flight: turquoise bays on one side, green ridgelines on the other, and pilots who fly the pattern several times a day. Founded by Bruno Magras and Michel Martinon and still run as the island's local carrier, SBC also does executive charters to roughly 25 Caribbean destinations, from Anguilla and Antigua down to Grenada, plus Guadeloupe and the USVIs.
What to Try
Book the scheduled SXM–SBH shuttle for a first arrival — it's cheaper and more frequent than chartering, and it delivers the full 'famous landing' experience. If you're arriving on a long-haul into SXM, ask about the through-baggage handoff so you don't have to lug bags across the SXM terminal yourself. For groups of four or more, or day trips to Anguilla, St Kitts or Barbuda, price out a private charter — once you split it, it's often close to scheduled fare and you fly on your own clock. Download the 'Fly SBC' iOS app for last-minute seat sales and standby moves.
Insider Tip
Ask for a right-side seat outbound from St Barth and a left-side seat on the way in from SXM — that's the side that gets Gustavia harbor and Colombier on departure, and the classic hillside-into-Saint-Jean view on arrival. Also: the strict 20 kg per person baggage limit is real, and overweight bags get bumped to a later flight. Pack a soft duffel, put valuables in your carry-on, and if you're bringing wine or dive gear tell them at booking so they can balance the load.
The Practical Stuff
Based at Aéroport Rémy de Haenen (SBH) in Saint-Jean, a 5-minute taxi from Gustavia. Terminal is small — arrive 45 minutes before scheduled departure, 30 for return legs. Book via stbarthcommuter.com, the Fly SBC app, phone +590 590 27 54 54, or email info@stbarthcommuter.com. Fleet is Cessna 208B Grand Caravans (single-engine turboprops, ~8 passengers). No flights after sunset — SBH is a daylight-only airport, so plan long-haul connections through SXM accordingly. Adult, child (2–11) and infant (0–24 months) fares available.
Pair It With
- Aéroport de Saint-Barthélemy / Rémy de Haenen Airport Guide — Home base for every SBC flight — grab a coffee at the terminal café and watch a couple of landings before yours to demystify the approach.
- 1493 Lodges St Barth Guide — A quiet Colombier hideaway on the far side of the island — ideal first night after the short flight, with sunset views back toward the flight path you just took.
- 6e SENS MASSAGE Wellness Beauty Saint Barth Guide — If the descent left you white-knuckled, book a decompression massage nearby before heading to your villa.
- A fleur de peau - St Barth Guide — Saint-Jean boutique two minutes from the terminal — perfect stop to swap travel clothes for something island-appropriate before check-in at your hotel.
- Abyss Restaurant Guide — Casual local lunch spot within walking distance of the airport, handy for early-arrival hunger or a pre-charter bite.
