Hire a Private Jet to the US Virgin Islands
A private jet from London reaches the US Virgin Islands in one long hop or in two, and the real decision is which runway it lands on: St Thomas, for the harbour and the villas, or St Croix, for the longest strip in the territory. Our customers have access to 6,500 jets of all types and configurations available for rent. We will help you choose the best option based on your needs and objectives. Our catalog contains the models from the largest manufacturers: Gulfstream, Dassault, Embraer, Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Learjet, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pilatus, HondaJet, etc. We have established partnerships with the world's largest airlines and VIP terminals, which means we can offer you favourable flight conditions and a high level of service. Our experts will manage the organization of your flight - starting with paperwork, agreements, etc., and ending with a transfer and meeting at the airport. Our company provides a full range of business aviation and concierge services. The islands are American soil, so the arrival is a United States border check, and the practical questions are where the aircraft parks and how the last miles to a villa or a boat are made.
At your request, the aviation consultants of Private Jets UK will help you choose the jet with the suitable technical parameters (production year, flight hours, and home base). The cost of the private jet charter in the US Virgin Islands depends on many factors, such as the model of the business jet, the number of passengers, departure and destination airports, type of flight, duration of parking, additional services, etc. Therefore, we calculate the price of each order individually taking into account your wishes. You can use an online calculator to get an instant charter quote. Please indicate your real contact details to get the final calculation.
You can calculate the cost of your flight in several ways:
- using an online calculator on the website (however, it shows only the approximate price);
- via Messenger (WhatsApp or Telegram);
- by landline or cell phone;
- via e-mail (jets@private-jets.co.uk).
Please note that the above-mentioned price is indicative only. It is calculated on this basis: a departure from Farnborough, an Embraer Praetor 600 to Cyril E. King Airport on St Thomas with one technical stop in the Azores, and two passengers aboard. If you want to get a personal quote, just fill out the online booking form below. Our aviation consultant will make the calculation within 20 minutes, and then contact you to specify the details of the flight.
How long does it take to fly to the US Virgin Islands?
From Farnborough the straight line to St Thomas is 3,730 nautical miles. A Praetor 600, with a published range of about 4,000, has little margin for that against the usual westbound headwind, so we plan two legs through Santa Maria in the Azores, 1,400 nautical miles and then 2,465. The detour adds 135 nautical miles and the stop is mostly an hour on the ground. Heavy jets cross in one hop. The territory keeps Atlantic Standard Time all year, four hours behind Britain in winter and five in summer. Flying times below are westbound unless stated:
3,865 nautical miles from Farnborough in two legsabout 9 h 25 min plus the stop
3,762 nautical miles from Biggin Hill in one hopabout 9 h 10 min
3,730 nautical miles from Farnborough at normal cruiseabout 8 h 15 min
3,730 nautical miles to Farnborough with the jet stream behind the aircraftabout 7 h
The exact flight time depends on the model of the business jet, as well as the speed of the tail or head wind. Our consultant will make a detailed calculation of the flight time for the chosen business jet.
Prices for the private jet flights to the US Virgin Islands
Typical charter prices from Britain, cheapest first. The lower rows are super-midsize jets that stop once in the Azores, the higher ones heavy jets that fly non-stop. Nearly every row ends at St Thomas, and one shows St Croix:
| Route | Aircraft | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|
| London Farnborough - St Thomas 3,865 nm / 7,158 km via the Azores |
Praetor 600 up to 9 |
from £60,800 |
| London Farnborough - St Croix 3,881 nm / 7,188 km via the Azores |
Praetor 600 up to 9 |
from £61,050 |
| London Gatwick - St Thomas 3,882 nm / 7,189 km via the Azores |
Praetor 600 up to 9 |
from £61,050 |
| Manchester - St Thomas 3,889 nm / 7,202 km via the Azores |
Praetor 600 up to 9 |
from £61,150 |
| London Biggin Hill - St Thomas 3,894 nm / 7,212 km via the Azores |
Praetor 600 up to 9 |
from £61,200 |
| London Luton - St Thomas 3,898 nm / 7,219 km via the Azores |
Praetor 600 up to 9 |
from £61,300 |
| London Stansted - St Thomas 3,918 nm / 7,256 km via the Azores |
Praetor 600 up to 9 |
from £61,600 |
| Edinburgh - St Thomas 3,963 nm / 7,339 km via the Azores |
Praetor 600 up to 9 |
from £62,250 |
| London Farnborough - St Thomas 3,865 nm / 7,158 km via the Azores |
Challenger 350 up to 9 |
from £71,500 |
| Belfast - St Thomas 3,584 nm / 6,638 km, non-stop |
Falcon 900LX up to 12 |
from £89,800 |
| London Biggin Hill - St Thomas 3,762 nm / 6,967 km, non-stop |
Falcon 900LX up to 12 |
from £94,050 |
| London Farnborough - St Thomas 3,730 nm / 6,908 km, non-stop |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £101,900 |
| London Gatwick - St Thomas 3,752 nm / 6,949 km, non-stop |
Gulfstream G550 up to 16 |
from £107,300 |
Two things worth knowing about these figures
– A Praetor 600 from Farnborough starts at £60,800, a Falcon 900LX from Biggin Hill is about £94,050 and a Gulfstream G650ER about £121,250. The heavy jet buys one landing; for four people with normal luggage the smaller jet is the sensible choice;
– A one-way price carries the aircraft's journey home, because the jet crosses the Atlantic again either way. A return booked for a stay of a week or two, or a date that catches an empty leg, changes the arithmetic more than negotiation does. Air Passenger Duty is charged per passenger on a departure from a British airport and appears as a separate line in the quotation.
Private jet flights within the US Virgin Islands and to its neighbours
Distances here are tiny: St Thomas and St Croix are 41 nautical miles apart and Tortola lies 26 from St Thomas. Clients ask for these hops after a long arrival. St John has no airport:
| Route | Aircraft | Flight time | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Thomas - Tortola 26 nm / 48 km |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 |
about 35 min | from £3,100 |
| St Thomas - Virgin Gorda 33 nm / 61 km |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 |
about 35 min | from £3,100 |
| St Thomas - St Croix 41 nm / 76 km |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 |
about 40 min | from £3,100 |
| St Thomas - San Juan 61 nm / 113 km |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 |
about 45 min | from £3,100 |
| St Thomas - Sint Maarten 112 nm / 207 km |
Citation CJ4 Gen2 up to 8 |
about 45 min | from £5,950 |
Two things worth knowing about the island hops
– Scheduled commuter flights link St Thomas and St Croix many times a day, so a private turboprop earns its price only for a party fresh from London, with a lot of luggage or no wish to queue;
– The British Virgin Islands, Sint Maarten and Antigua are separate states, so a day trip there is a border crossing. Which operator may carry passengers between two points outside its own state differs, so for regional hops we normally propose a locally based operator and confirm the permission in writing.
We can arrange the flights from any cities in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and European countries. Due to a large database of available business jets, we can help you find an optimal jet and crew. If you have any questions about the departure or the flight itself, you can ask them using the form below:
Prices depending on the type of business jet
We can clearly show the high dependence of the cost of the flight, on the type of aircraft - we have collected approximate data, at the price of 1 flight hour, for various types of business jets:
The cost per hour indicated in the table is preliminary and does not constitute an offer or a commercial offer. Exact prices are available from the managers of the company.
Online Calculator
If you want to make an urgent calculation of the cost of a private plane flight, use our online calculator. Just fill in all the fields of the form with a note that you are interested in a specific model of the aircraft and get the final price. NB! - the figures are sent to you by email or messenger, please carefully fill in the contact details to get the calculation.
All our calculations are as transparent as possible for you. After receiving the request, we will prepare a beautiful offer - where the costs and the final price will be clearly described. The exact price is agreed in advance and is written in the contract, so you can be sure of the final cost.
Private jets are ready to take off
Our database contains over 6,500 business jets (about 3,500 in Europe and 3,000 in the rest of the world) of different configurations and production years. The list of models is constantly updated. Unfortunately, we can't post a full list of available jets on our website due to confidentiality issues. Please contact the managers of the company for more accurate information. We will help you choose a suitable model taking into account your wishes. These are the typical choices for the US Virgin Islands:
Turboprops
For the islands and not the crossing: St Thomas to St Croix, Tortola, Virgin Gorda and San Juan.
Light jets
For regional hops with four to six people. No light jet attempts the crossing from Britain.
Super-midsize
The class behind our starting price: one stop in the Azores, then a comfortable landing on the 7,000-foot runway at St Thomas.
Heavy jets
More room for a family with staff, on the same Azores routing and with a bigger bill.
Ultra-long range
The class that crosses in one hop, led on price by the Falcon 900LX.
Parking on St Thomas is tight in winter, so we name the aircraft, the handler and the parking arrangement in the quotation.
How to book a private jet?
You can book a private jet flight to the US Virgin Islands in 6 easy steps:
- Flight request - indicating the route and your preferences for the model of business jet and other points.
- Coordination of flight details - our consultant will contact you to offer the possible flight options and answer all your questions.
- Commercial offer - we will send you a final offer on a specific model taking into account all your wishes.
- Signing of the contract.
- Payment for the flight and booking a business jet.
- Departure at the agreed time and date. Assistance during the whole flight.
In addition to renting the private jets and arranging the flights, we provide concierge services, premium transfer, security, exclusive catering, etc. We have learned to solve problems of any complexity, offering the service of the European level. Our experts will be happy to answer your questions and help you arrange your flight.
How to rent a business jet with a crew
5 main stages:
-
Sending an application
-
Clarification of details and search for options
-
Preparation and coordination of optimal options
-
Registration of documents. Payment of the invoice.
-
Departure on the route.
Business aviation airports in the US Virgin Islands
The territory has two airports for jets, on different islands. St Thomas takes nearly all the business traffic and St Croix has the longer runway; the British Virgin Islands are next door:
| Airport | Ground | How it operates |
|---|---|---|
| Cyril E. King STT / TIST |
St Thomas, 2 to 3 miles west of Charlotte Amalie, 10 to 15 minutes by taxi | The main airport for business jets. One grooved asphalt runway, 10/28, listed at 7,000 by 150 feet with an instrument approach, which handler pages say takes large-cabin jets up to the Gulfstream G550 and the Challenger 604. Three handlers: Standard Aviation, Execujet Flight Services and Signature St Thomas, the former St Thomas Jet Center. US Customs and Border Protection clears international arrivals on site. A landing fee applies and no slot is required, but ramp space is limited and December to March is congested |
| Henry E. Rohlsen STX / TISX |
St Croix, about 25 to 30 minutes by road from Christiansted | A runway of 10,002 by 150 feet, the longest in the territory, a control tower and one handler, Bohlke International Aviation. International arrivals clear US customs at the airport and the handler page says no slot restrictions apply to charters. It serves St Croix itself, not St John or the British side |
| Terrance B. Lettsome EIS / TUPJ |
Beef Island, British Virgin Islands, 26 nautical miles east of St Thomas | A runway of about 4,645 feet, which limits it to light and midsize jets. A heavy jet that landed at St Thomas continues by helicopter, turboprop or ferry, with a second border check |
Three points settle most arrivals before a quote goes out:
Parking first
The apron on St Thomas is small and busy from December into March, so the parking request goes in with the flight details.
Which hours apply
Directories disagree on the edges of the day: the tower is listed as closing at 22:30 local time, airport attendance at 21:30 or 23:00, and fire cover is off from 23:00 to 06:00. Standard Aviation lists customs at any hour with notice, yet its staffed weekday hours are shorter. We plan an afternoon arrival and name the handler.
Arriving from Britain: ESTA, customs and what to carry
The islands are a United States territory, so a private flight from London arrives as an international flight into the United States, with the same border check as Miami or New York.
every British passenger needs an approved ESTA or a visa before the flight, children includedfor each passenger
valid for the whole stay; we ask to see each ESTA approvalbefore we quote
an arrest, a criminal record, an earlier refusal or overstay, or travel to certain countries; ESTA may not cover work for a US companyapply for a visa if in doubt
the pilot sends the names and documents of everyone aboard, crew included, to the border service before leaving Britainwe do it for you
declare food, plants and goods; we agree the catering order in advance so fresh produce is no surprisedeclare when in doubt
a foreign-registered charter aircraft needs US Department of Transportation authorisation, the 375 exemption, and may need a Transportation Security Administration waiver; we check what the operator holds before we quotethe operator's paperwork
The territory is not quite the mainland
Traffic keeps to the left on all three main islands, although nearly all cars are American left-hand-drive models. The currency is the US dollar.
Travellers flying from the territory to the mainland or Puerto Rico must prove identity and can be examined by Customs and Border Protection before boarding, and goods bought in the islands are declared. Coming home, a General Aviation Report goes to the border authorities not earlier than 48 hours and not later than two hours before departure, and British and Irish citizens need no electronic travel authorisation, while most other nationalities do.
Which airport for which part of the US Virgin Islands
The address decides the airport. St John is quiet, with roughly two thirds of the island in the national park, and St Croix has Christiansted and Buck Island Reef National Monument. The usual pairings:
the capital is 10 to 15 minutes by taxi; Red Hook, the ferry dock for St John, is 11 to 13 miles away, 30 to 45 minutes in peak trafficSt Thomas
no airport; the passenger ferry runs from Red Hook to Cruz Bay in about 20 minutes, and from Charlotte Amalie in about 45; roughly two thirds of the island belongs to the national parkSt Thomas, then ferry
ferries run from St Thomas and St John; the faster routes are a helicopter or turboprop to Beef Island, 26 nautical miles awaySt Thomas, then onward
about 25 to 30 minutes by road to Christiansted, under 15 to Frederiksted and 20 to 40 to the north shore resortsSt Croix
Cape Air and Fly the Whale fly it many times a day, and Bohlke charters a King Air for groups of up to eightby air
The year in the US Virgin Islands: winter peak and hurricane months
About 87,000 people live on the islands and tourism supplies about 60% of economic output. Hurricanes Irma and Maria, two weeks apart, damaged most buildings, and a handler terminal on St Thomas had to be rebuilt; a hurricane is the one event that closes an airport for days:
the high season, dry and sunny; hotel rates can rise by as much as 30%, and the apron at St Thomas is fullest from December into Marchpeak
September and October are the wettest, and many businesses close thenlow season
the Atlantic hurricane season, most active from August to October; the chance of a major storm is small, but flexible dates are sensiblerisk period
The best weeks are also the dearest weeks
Christmas, New Year and the regatta weeks are when the apron at St Thomas fills and aircraft are hardest to find. The figures here describe an ordinary week, with a Falcon 900LX from Biggin Hill to St Thomas at £94,050 one way. A holiday week is booked as early as the dates are known.
The US Virgin Islands calendar: regattas, carnivals and Christmas
Sailing, carnival and food make up most of the dated events:
What a carnival does to a flight plan
Carnival and regatta weeks fill hotels, ferries and the apron together, so a dated event is the worst week to ask for an aircraft at short notice.
Flying to the US Virgin Islands with a dog or a cat
The islands admit pets from Britain under United States federal rules. The paperwork out is short for a dog and less defined for a cat, and it is the way home that needs planning.
The one fact to read before you book
Going out, a dog needs a CDC Dog Import Form completed online, and the emailed receipt is shown on arrival. The United Kingdom is not on the CDC list of countries at high risk for dog rabies, so the dog must be at least six months old, carry a readable microchip and look healthy. Each dog needs its own form, and cats are outside that rule. The territory's Department of Agriculture says animals from outside the United States and Puerto Rico are also subject to federal animal health rules, and we ask its Veterinary Services office in writing for each trip.
Coming home, the United States, the Virgin Islands included, is a listed country for Great Britain. The animal needs a Great Britain pet health certificate, a dog needs a tapeworm treatment from a vet no less than 24 and no more than 120 hours before landing, and an animal that misses the rules can be held in quarantine for up to four months.
- The CDC receipt for a dog and a microchip that scans;
- The rabies record and the microchip date, which decide whether the return certificate can be signed.
The animal stays in the cabin with its owner; on a Praetor 600 we ask the operator to confirm that it may stay aboard during the landing at Santa Maria. We confirm the paperwork in writing before the flight. Other species follow different rules, set out on our flying with pets guide.
Empty Legs
An empty leg is a repositioning flight with nobody aboard, offered at a fraction of the usual price. A charter here is one-way by nature, and the aircraft must cross an ocean to get home or find its next client.
Where empty legs to and from the islands come from
– December and the weeks after Christmas, when jets arrive full and fly home empty;
– April into May, when aircraft that wintered in the Caribbean return to Europe;
– Regatta and carnival weeks, when a heavy jet brings an owner's party and leaves empty.
A client who can offer a few days has the best chance, though a leg can disappear when the original booking changes. Whatever is free is listed on our empty legs page. A selection of empty legs on the US Virgin Islands runs follows:
| Route | Aircraft | Capacity | Whole aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Thomas - UK (London Farnborough) | Praetor 600 | 9 seats | £25,550 |
| St Croix - UK (London Luton) | Praetor 600 | 9 seats | £25,850 |
| UK (Belfast) - St Thomas | Falcon 900LX | 12 seats | £37,700 |
| St Thomas - UK (London Biggin Hill) | Falcon 900LX | 12 seats | £39,500 |
| UK (London Gatwick) - St Thomas | Gulfstream G550 | 16 seats | £45,050 |
How to read those figures
– Each price is for the whole aircraft rather than per seat: a Falcon 900LX leg of £37,700 with eight aboard works out at about £4,710 a head, about two-fifths of a fresh one-way charter on the same sector;
– Legs on this corridor cluster around the season dates, so an open date helps more than anything.
Helicopter charter
The one operator we can name from published sources is Caribbean Buzz Helicopters, which flies transfers between St Thomas and Beef Island and from St Thomas to the heliport at Oil Nut Bay on Virgin Gorda. We have not confirmed other operators based in the territory itself. Each movement is priced separately:
to Beef Island, for the British Virgin Islands and its marinasabout 20 min
to the resorts at the eastern end of the British islandsabout 25 min
The times are straight-line estimates at about 115 knots plus start-up and landing.
Two points on Caribbean rotary legs
A landing away from an airport or a listed heliport needs a site agreed in advance, and a landing in another territory brings customs and immigration with it.
Flights from the UK to the US Virgin Islands
We fly this corridor from every British airfield in the list below, and the price table higher up covers thirteen of those pairings. Our clients have access to all airports of the UK and Europe. Due to the unique partnership conditions, we can offer our clients the best prices for business aviation services. Our experts will consult you on the availability of private jets in a particular city and help you choose the best option.
List of TOP 25 business aviation airports:
| Airport | Country | ICAO | IATA |
|---|---|---|---|
 London Heathrow Airport |
England | EGLL | LHR |
| Birmingham Airport |
England | EGBB | BHX |
| London Gatwick |
England | EGKK | LGW |
| London City Airport |
England | EGLC | LCY |
| London Luton |
England | EGGW | LTN |
| Edinburgh Airport |
Scotland | EGPH | EDI |
| Leeds Airport |
England | EGNM | LBA |
| Manchester Airport |
England | EGCC | MAN |
| London Stansted |
England | EGSS | STN |
| Liverpool John Lennon Airport |
England | EGGP | LPL |
| Newcastle Airport |
England | EGNT | NCL |
| Bristol Airport |
England | EGGD | BRS |
| Glasgow Airport |
Scotland | EGPF | GLA |
| East Midlands Airport |
England | EGNX | EMA |
| Southampton Airport |
England | EGHI | SOU |
| Jersey Airport |
Channel Islands | EGJJ | JER |
| Cardiff International Airport |
Wales | EGFF | CWL |
| Inverness Airport |
Scotland | EGPE | INV |
| Bournemouth Airport |
England | EGHH | BOH |
| London Farnborough Airport |
England | EGLF | FAB |
| Oxford Airport |
England | EGTK | OXF |
| London Biggin Hill |
England | EGKB | BQH |
| Belfast Airport |
Northern Ireland | EGAA | BFS |
| Gibraltar Airport |
Gibraltar | LXGB | GIB |
| Aberdeen Airport |
Scotland | EGPD | ABZ |
US Virgin Islands charters from the booking notes: six typical trips
Six typical jobs put together from booking notes with the particulars changed, so none describes one named client or date.
CHRISTMAS · A FAMILY OF SIX
Ten days at a villa above Charlotte Amalie
Farnborough - St Thomas via the Azores, Praetor 600, about 9 h 25 min plus the stop · 6 pax
They left on the Saturday before Christmas, stopped at Santa Maria for an hour and landed in the afternoon. The return was a separate one-way.
REGATTA WEEK · AN OWNER
A non-stop crossing to the boat
Biggin Hill - St Thomas, Falcon 900LX, about 9 h 10 min · 4 pax
The owner wanted no stop and a large cabin. The party cleared US entry at the handler, and a car reached the marina in under half an hour.
ST JOHN · A NORTH SHORE HOUSE
Four guests, a car and a ferry
London - St Thomas via the Azores, then road and ferry · 4 pax
The party drove to Red Hook and took the passenger ferry to Cruz Bay, about 20 minutes. The handler had booked the car.
ST CROIX · A DIVING WEEK
A short hop to the sister island
St Thomas - St Croix, Pilatus PC-12 NGX, about 40 min · 4 pax
The party carried on the afternoon it landed from London. The flying is short, so the planning went into the car and the weight of the dive gear.
WITH THE DOG · THE RETURN FIRST
A couple, a labrador and a month in the sun
Farnborough - St Thomas via the Azores, Praetor 600, about 9 h 25 min plus the stop · 2 pax + dog
The CDC receipt was issued before the quote, and a vet on the island gave the tapeworm treatment the day before the flight home.
EMPTY LEG · THE END OF THE SEASON
A flexible return to Belfast
St Thomas - Belfast, Falcon 900LX empty leg, about 7 h 20 min · 3 pax
The client offered a window of four days and paid about £37,700, well under half of a fresh one-way charter.
Frequently asked questions about flying to the US Virgin Islands
1How long does it take to fly to the US Virgin Islands by private jet?
About 9 hours 10 minutes non-stop in a Falcon 900LX from a London airfield to St Thomas, and about 9 hours 25 minutes in a Praetor 600 plus about an hour in the Azores.
2How much does a private jet to the US Virgin Islands cost?
From about £60,800 one way from Farnborough in a Praetor 600 with a stop in the Azores, landing on St Thomas. A Falcon 900LX non-stop from Biggin Hill is about £94,050, and a Gulfstream G650ER about £121,250. Air Passenger Duty is shown as a separate line in the quotation.
3Which airports do private jets use in the US Virgin Islands?
Cyril E. King Airport on St Thomas (STT, TIST) takes most business traffic, with a 7,000-foot runway, three handlers and US customs. Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on St Croix (STX, TISX) has a 10,002-foot runway. St John has no airport.
4What are the passport and customs rules for a private flight from Britain to the US Virgin Islands?
The islands are United States territory, so every British passenger, children included, needs an approved ESTA or a visa, and a passport valid for the whole stay.
5Can I take my dog or cat on a private jet to the US Virgin Islands?
Yes. A dog needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a readable microchip and an age of at least six months. For the return the animal needs a Great Britain pet health certificate, and a dog a tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before landing.
6When is the best time to fly to the US Virgin Islands, and how early should I book?
December to April is the high season. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and peaks from August to October. Book early for Christmas, New Year and the regatta weeks.