Air Travel in St. Lucia

Air Canada has weekend nonstop service to Hewanorra International Airport in Vieux Fort from Toronto and weekly service from Montreal during the high season. Air Jamaica flies to Hewanorra from New York via Barbados or Montego Bay. American Airlines flies nonstop daily between Hewanorra and Miami and thrice weekly between Hewanorra and New York (JFK); American also offers connecting service from New York and other major U.S. cities through San Juan via American Eagle to George F. L. Charles Airport in Castries. British Airways flies weekly between London Gatwick and Hewanorra. US Airways flies twice weekly to Hewanorra from Philadelphia and Charlotte. Virgin Atlantic flies nonstop to Hewanorra from London Gatwick.

Air Caraïbes flies between George F. L. Charles Airport and Guadeloupe and Martinique; LIAT flies into George F. L. Charles Airport from several neighboring islands.

Airline Information

Air Canada (758/454-6038. www.aircanada.com). Air Caraïbes (758/453-0357. www.aircaraibes.com). Air Jamaica (758/453-6611 or 800/523-5585. www.airjamaica.com). American Airlines/American Eagle (758/452-1820, 758/454-6777, or 800/744-0006. www.aa.com). British Airways (758/452-3951. www.britishairways.com). LIAT (758/452-3056 or 888/844-5428. www.liat.com). US Airways (758/454-8186. www.usairways.com). Virgin Atlantic (758/454-3610. www.virginatlantic.com).

Airports and Transfers

St. Lucia has two airports. Hewanorra International Airport accommodates large jet aircraft and is at the southeastern tip of the island in Vieux Fort. George F. L. Charles Airport (also referred to as Vigie Airport) is at Vigie Point in Castries, in the northwestern part of the island, and accommodates only prop aircraft due to its location and runway limitations.

Many large resorts—particularly the all-inclusive ones—and package tour operators provide round-trip airport transfers. That's a significant amenity if you're landing at Hewanorra, as the one-way taxi fare for the 60- to 90-minute ride (depending on whether you're headed to Soufrière or Castries) is expensive—$55 to $75 for up to four passengers. Taxis are always available at the airports.

If you land instead at George F. L. Charles Airport, it's a short drive to resorts in the north, about 20 minutes to Marigot Bay, but more than an hour to Soufrière.

Some people opt for a helicopter transfer between Hewanorra and either Castries or Soufrière, a quick 7- to 10-minute ride with a beautiful view at a one-way cost if $120 to $140 per passenger. Helicopters operate in daylight hours only and carry up to six passengers.

Airport Information

George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU. 758/452-1156). Hewanorra International Airport (UVF. 758/454-6355). St. Lucia Helicopters (Pointe Seraphine, Castries. 758/453-6950. www.stluciahelicopters.com).