St. Barths Airport Operates Under IATA Level 2 Schedule Facilitation for 2026/27 Winter; AirSXM Plans to Pre-Purchase Up to 160 SXM–SBH Charter Slots
Why It MattersFixed stand capacity under IATA Level 2 facilitation at a short-runway airport keeps seasonal island access supply-limited, pushing demand toward slot pre-purchase, charter credits and sea transfers.
AirStMaarten says travel to St. Barths for the 2026/27 high season is becoming harder to arrange and recommends that travelers book early. It cites an inquiry from two Los Angeles university students who wanted to travel from December 27, 2026, to January 3, 2027, on a budget of $600 to $700 per person round trip, including flights between Los Angeles and the Caribbean. A partner private aviation company received a similar inquiry.
St. Barths has no international airport able to take large commercial jets, so most travelers connect through a regional gateway such as St. Maarten, San Juan, Antigua or Guadeloupe. The SXM–SBH flight normally takes about 15 to 25 minutes. Gustaf III Airport has a short runway, restricted operating hours, limited parking and challenging terrain. SBH is an IATA Level 2 airport, and the French coordinator COHOR handles schedule facilitation. According to COHOR, the airport opens at 07:00 local time and closes at sunset plus 15 minutes. Operators submit requested arrival and departure times, the facilitator issues recommendations based on parking stand availability, and any change to an initially requested time must be notified to COHOR.
According to COHOR, from 07:30 local time until 15 minutes before sunset up to 10 aircraft stands and 2 helicopter stands are available. From 14 minutes before sunset until 07:29 local time, up to 12 aircraft stands and 2 helicopter stands are available. Each aircraft uses one stand. Until October 1, 2026, the facilitator makes 2 aircraft stands available, then 1 stand up to 5 days before the date of operation. COHOR lists the 2025/26 winter season as running from October 26, 2025, to March 28, 2026.
AirSXM plans to pre-purchase up to 160 charter slots on the SXM–SBH and SBH–SXM routes for the 2026/27 high season, based on historical booking patterns. Prepaid charter flight credits are offered from $2,400 to $2,800 per sector, subject to availability, fees and booking conditions. If a client's plans change and the original flight can be reallocated to another client, the unused value may remain on the account as a credit toward a future eligible charter. Payments remain non-refundable, and changes and credits are subject to availability and fare differences.
As an alternative, SeaSXM arranges private speedboat transfers between St. Maarten and St. Barths, including a 12-passenger Donzi, with pricing depending on passenger numbers and service requirements. Sea transfers are not subject to the COHOR scheduling process. They take about 45 minutes or longer depending on the vessel, sea conditions, departure point and destination, and remain subject to weather, port procedures and vessel availability.
