Flying to the British Virgin Islands: 2026 Overview
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are served primarily via Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island (airport code EIS), which acts as the main gateway for visitors to Tortola and the surrounding islands. Virgin Gorda also has a small airport (VIJ), but most international itineraries connect to EIS and then continue by ferry or short regional flight. Flight routes are typically indirect, with connections through major Caribbean hubs such as San Juan (SJU), St Thomas (STT) or other regional airports.
Main BVI Airports
- Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS) – Located on Beef Island just off Tortola, this is the primary airport for the territory, handling the majority of scheduled regional services and acting as the main arrival point for visitors continuing onwards by ferry or inter-island flights.
- Virgin Gorda Airport (VIJ) – A much smaller airstrip used by regional and charter operators, suitable mainly for light aircraft and short-hop connections from nearby islands.
Most travellers will book their long-haul or transatlantic sector to a Caribbean hub and then connect onwards to EIS using a regional carrier or codeshare partner, which is reflected in current booking engines and airline schedules.
Typical Routes from the UK and Europe
There are no non-stop flights from the UK or mainland Europe to the BVI, so journeys require at least one connection, often two. Common routings include:
- Flying from London Gatwick or Heathrow to a Caribbean hub such as Antigua (ANU), Barbados (BGI) or St Kitts (SKB), then connecting to a regional airline serving EIS on the same ticket.
- Routing via San Juan (SJU) in Puerto Rico, using a transatlantic flight to a US east coast city, then a US domestic or regional flight to SJU, and finally a short hop to EIS.
- Booking a transatlantic flight to St Thomas (STT) in the US Virgin Islands, then continuing by ferry to Tortola or another BVI island.
From the UK, major long-haul carriers and alliance partners generally offer through-fares that combine the transatlantic sector with interCaribbean and similar regional airlines, allowing bags to be checked through and connections to be protected.
Typical Routes from North America
From the United States and Canada, there are no regular non-stop services from major mainland cities directly to the BVI, so passengers connect via Caribbean hubs. Common patterns include:
- Flying to San Juan (SJU) from cities like Miami, New York or Charlotte, then taking a short regional flight to EIS with a Caribbean carrier.
- Connecting via St Thomas (STT) and using a short flight or ferry onwards to Tortola.
- Using other regional hubs in the northern Caribbean, depending on the airline network and season, and then transferring to smaller aircraft for the final leg.
Schedules and routings are seasonal, with increased capacity during peak winter months and holiday periods, so it is worth checking multiple dates and nearby departure airports when planning.
Flying vs Ferry via St Thomas
Many travellers compare flying directly into EIS with flying to St Thomas (STT) in the US Virgin Islands and then continuing by sea. STT is served by more frequent flights from the US mainland, which can make fares lower or schedules more flexible, especially from east coast cities.
- Direct to EIS – Higher convenience and shorter overall journey once you land in the Caribbean, as you arrive directly in the BVI and can transfer quickly to your accommodation or an inter-island boat.
- Via STT and ferry – Potentially cheaper or better-timed long-haul flights, followed by a ferry crossing of around 30–60 minutes, depending on the service and route, with several sailings most days between St Thomas and Tortola.
When choosing between these options, it is important to factor in ferry schedules, transfer time between the airport and ferry dock, and the cut-off for the last sailing of the day to avoid unexpected overnights.
Booking Tips and Practical Advice
- Check whether your ticket is booked on a single itinerary, which usually provides through-check of luggage and protection in case of delays, or whether your long-haul and regional legs are on separate bookings.
- Allow generous connection times in Caribbean hubs, particularly if switching between airlines or terminals, as some regional services use smaller aircraft and have strict check-in cut-offs.
- Monitor seasonal schedules, as frequencies can drop outside peak winter and holiday periods, reducing options on certain days of the week.
- Consider arriving a day early into your hub (for example, San Juan or St Thomas) if you have a hard deadline such as a yacht charter start date, as weather or operational issues can occasionally affect regional flights and ferries.
- For multi-island itineraries that include Virgin Gorda, Anegada or Jost Van Dyke, plan the order of islands around available inter-island flights and ferry routes to minimise backtracking through Tortola.
With a little forward planning around connections, hubs and ferry timings, getting to the BVI can be a smooth and enjoyable start to your Caribbean trip rather than a stressful series of transfers.