Caribbean By Private Jet: Gateway to Island Luxury and Business Ease

By Publisher Ray Carmen 

Private jet travel has transformed Caribbean vacations (and business trips) into seamless, ultra-luxe adventures.  Picture boarding your own chartered jet at a quiet FBO terminal in New York or Miami, then touching down directly on the tarmac of a sun-drenched island resort hours later.  Major gateways – from New York’s Teterboro and New Jersey to the Florida tri-state area and even London – now feed nonstop or one-stop charters to hotspots like St. Barths, Turks & Caicos, The Bahamas and St. Lucia.  Industry sources note that island hops and beach-bound legs dominate: popular routes include St. Maarten↔St. Barths and Miami→Anguilla , while multistop fly-in itineraries (say, Miami→San Juan→St. Lucia) are routine.  For example, evoJets lists one-way pricing from New York to Turks & Caicos ($24,000 via super-midsize jet) and from Miami to Turks ($8,000 light jet) .  From Europe, ultra-long-range heavy jets dispatch travelers direct to Caribbean hubs: London–St. Lucia or London–St. Barths flights (7–8 hour hops) are chartered at roughly $75,000 one-way .  In short, whatever your origin – East Coast, Midwest or even abroad – a private charter can tailor a routing to your preferred island.

Line up of private jets on an airport ramp – these versatile aircraft (from small bizjets to large Globals) make direct flights into the Caribbean. Private terminals let you drive right onto the tarmac and board, skipping airline crowds.

Chartered Routes & Departure Hubs

High-net-worth travelers regularly depart from major business centers.  New Yorkers often use Teterboro (near Manhattan) or White Plains, while Canadians may fly from Toronto or Montreal.  In Florida, executives board jets at Miami-Opa Locka, Palm Beach or Fort Lauderdale.  These cities offer dozens of daily charter flights to the region.  For instance, evoJets lists Miami→Nassau (Bahamas) charters for about $8,650 round-trip on a light jet , and St. Maarten→Anguilla for around $790 one-way on a prop plane .  Luxury brokers like PrivateFly/FX Air even highlight yacht-transfer itineraries (e.g. PrivateFly’s popular transfers from Fort Lauderdale to BVI marinas or between St. Maarten and St. Barths ).  Across the Atlantic, London departures to Barbados or Antigua are handled by fleets of heavy jets (Vistajet, NetJets, Wheels Up and the like), often via mid‑Atlantic fuel stops.  In sum, the Caribbean is now virtually “next door” for globe-trotting CEOs and celebrities, thanks to these nonstop or one-stop charter connections.

Charter Providers and Jet Types

A robust network of charter operators service the Caribbean.  Global brokers such as Air Charter Service, Paramount Business Jets and PrivateFly (FX Air) offer one-off flights, while fractional/fleet programs like NetJets, VistaJet, Flexjet, Wheels Up and XO handle repeated requests for the same clients.  Regionally-focused carriers also play a role: e.g. Tradewind Aviation runs high-end scheduled charters to St. Barths and Anguilla from hubs like San Juan .  (Tradewind’s “by-the-seat” shuttles, for example, recently relaunched service to Anguilla and St. Barths .)  Smaller boutique firms — Silverhawk Aviation, Atlantic Jet, Skyservice, etc. — often specialize in Caribbean itineraries.

Chartered jets come in three main categories. Light and very-light jets (8 seats) – plus turboprops like Beechcraft King Air – handle short hops between islands. Super-mid and midsize jets (9–12 pax, ~3,000+ nm) serve flights from Florida/NY into islands like Turks & Caicos or St. Lucia.  Long-range heavy jets (10–19 pax) are required for transoceanic legs.  For example, evoJets’ pricing table notes New York→St. Barths would use a super-midsize jet (~8–10 passengers) and costs ~$27,500 one-way , whereas London→St. Barths uses a heavy jet (~10–16 pax) at ~$75,000 .  Similarly, New York→Anguilla (one-way heavy-jet charter) is ~$35,000 .  These aircraft categories align with luxury needs: midsize and super-midsize jets offer stand-up cabins and spacious lounges, while heavies provide ultra-long range and full amenities.

Pricing: What It Costs to Charter

Charter pricing varies by distance, aircraft type, season and one-way vs. round-trip.  Short island hops can be surprisingly affordable: PrivateFly lists St. Maarten→St. Barths (11 minute hop) at about $1,600 one-way (8‑seat turboprop) .  Regional legs (e.g. Florida→Bahamas) are typically in the low‑thousands per flight hour.  EvoJets cites Miami→Nassau at ~$4,500 one-way by turboprop .  A 2‑3 hour flight like Miami→Grand Turk or West Palm→Exumas might run $8K–$10K one-way on a light jet.  Longer flights scale up: New York→Turks & Caicos is ~$24K one-way (super-mid) ; New York→Bahamas ~$9.5K (light jet) ; Chicago→St. Lucia around $38K .  Transcontinental and Atlantic flights jump into five figures. For instance, Miami→St. Maarten (Hawker 800XP) is quoted at ~$25,400 round-trip , and London→Caribbean heavy-jet flights (e.g. London→St. Lucia) ~$75K+ one-way .  (By contrast, a private one-stop Boston→Anguilla run might total ~$60K–$70K.)  Keep in mind: these are ballpark targets. Many brokers advertise “from” prices, and peak-season or round-trip bids can be higher.

In-Flight Luxury and Amenities

The cabin experience rivals any five-star hotel.  Plush seating (often leather club seats) that convert to fully flat beds is standard on most business jets.  Air Charter Service notes private aircraft boast “high-quality seating which often convert into lie-flat beds” .  Entertainment centers (personal screens and Bose headsets) and blazing‑fast Wi-Fi on larger jets keep you connected or relaxed.  Unlike airline tray meals, gourmet dining is de rigueur: full-flight attendants and chefs prepare custom menus, from caviar service to five-course dinners .  Expect a well-stocked bar and fine china on display.  Larger cabins may even feature private staterooms and fully enclosed bathrooms with showers – a signature of ultra-long-range heavy jets .  One broker describes heavy jets as offering “stand-up cabins, kitchens for full in-flight catering, [and] lie-flat beds and enclosed bathrooms” .  In short, your flight time becomes an extension of the luxury resort: quiet cabins with climate and lighting controls, ample luggage space (even for golf clubs and equipment), and personalized service from attentive crew.

Example of first-class cabin service aboard a private jet: chilled champagne, gourmet snacks and attentive crew. Such personalized dining and amenities are hallmarks of charter travel .

The Private Edge: Time, Privacy and Flexibility

For business travelers especially, flying private is all about saving time and gaining flexibility.  You set your schedule – no more connecting flights or fixed airline timetables.  One industry analysis found private charters save about 127 minutes per trip by avoiding airline lines and layovers .  With expedited FBO processing, VIP lounges and dedicated customs, you often skip queues entirely .  As Silverhawk Aviation notes, arriving via private jet means “direct access to smaller airports and private customs clearance, you’re beachside before the average traveler has even boarded their second flight” .

Moreover, private jets land at thousands of regional airports unavailable to airlines .  Need to reach St. Barths’ short runway? You’ll stage through nearby St. Maarten (or Antigua) on a small jet.  Want to tour multiple islands in one trip? Charter flights can bounce on demand (and often allow pre-cleared private transfers).  Privacy is another huge advantage: your meetings and conversations stay behind closed doors with no strangers nearby .  No crying babies, no middle seats – it’s a business suite in the sky.  Baggage is largely a non-issue, too; most charter deals include generous luggage allowances or even unpopped golf bags, with your checked cases handled from curb to cabin.  In sum, private travel turns your journey itself into an uninterrupted, stress-free extension of your work or leisure.

VIP Caribbean Arrival Experiences

The luxury continues after touchdown.  Many Caribbean islands have world-class FBO terminals or VIP services.  In Barbados, for example, the new PAS Jet Centre offers 24/7 VIP lounges, on-site customs/immigration, and “plane-to-transport” concierge service .  Guests step off the jet, clear immigration in a private lounge, and are whisked away in a limousine.  At Grantley Adams airport, travelers can go directly to resorts like Sandy Lane or The Crane via private car .  In St. Martin and St. Barts, dedicated VIP desks arrange seamless transfers: one St. Martin–Barts combo package even handles luggage delivery straight to your villa or yacht upon arrival .

Beyond the airport, luxury touches abound.  Most charter clients book private villas or five-star resorts with butler service.  In St. Lucia, for example, you might unwind at Jade Mountain or Sugar Beach with private plunge pools and 24/7 staff.  In the Bahamas or TCI, personalized concierge teams can arrange everything from yacht charters and paddleboard rentals to island-hopping tours by helicopter.  Some travelers even charter a private yacht upon arrival – imagine landing at Exuma, stepping aboard a crewed catamaran, and island-hopping on turquoise seas.  Every detail is curated: private chefs deliver beachfront dinners, masseuses come to your suite, and golf carts await to drive you around sprawling estates.  As one travel guide puts it, Caribbean private travel is “designed around ease, discretion and elegance” .

Private jet travelers step off the plane and into paradise: remote white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and palm-fringed villas await.  Many guests combine their flight with villa or yacht stays, making for a truly bespoke Caribbean escape.

In 2025, the Caribbean is more accessible than ever to discerning jetsetters.  Whether for a board retreat or a sun-kissed sabbatical, flying private offers unmatched convenience and flair.  Skip the baggage hall and boarding lines, customize your schedule, and sink into island life the moment you arrive – that’s the private-jet promise for business and leisure travelers alike.

Sources: Industry charter data and travel guides .