The island maintains two separate airports, whose different locations cause endless confusion to many newcomers. Most international long-distance flights land at Hewanorra International Airport (UVF; tel. 758/454-6355) in the south, 72km (45 miles) from Castries. If you arrive here and you're booked into a hotel in the north, you'll spend about an hour and a half traveling along the potholed East Coast Highway. Many hotels arrange transfers to and from the airport, but if not, taxis are available; the average fare is $20 to $85 for up to four passengers. Many visitors now prefer to take helicopter flights from Hewanorra International Airport to their resorts rather than endure the long, stomach-churning car ride. St. Lucia Helicopters (tel. 758/453-6950; www.stluciahelicopters.com) offers flights between Castries and Hewanorra Airport or Soufrière, costing $145 per person one-way. Flights can also be arranged to the Jalousie Plantation, which has its own helicopter pad.
Flights from other parts of the Caribbean usually land at the smaller, somewhat antiquated George F. L. Charles Airport (formerly known as Vigie; tel. 758/452-1156), in the northeast. Its location just outside Castries affords much more convenient access to the capital and many of the island's hotels. It is a long (about an hour and a half), twisting drive to lodging in and around Soufrière, but you'll pass through beautiful terrain and quaint fishing villages along the way.
American (tel. 800/433-7300 in the U.S. and Canada; www.aa.com) flies nonstop Monday, Thursday, and Sunday from New York's Kennedy Airport to Hewanorra. American also flies daily from Miami to St. Lucia.
Delta (tel. 800/241-4141 in the U.S. and Canada; www.delta.com) flies once daily from Friday to Tuesday from Atlanta.
American Eagle (tel. 800/433-7300 in the U.S. and Canada, or 758/452-1820; www.aa.com) serves George F. L. Charles Airport with nonstop flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Connections from all parts of the North American mainland to the airline's enormous hub in San Juan are frequent and convenient. American also offers some good package deals.
US Airways (tel. 800/622-1015 in the U.S. and Canada; www.usairways.com) flies two times a week from Philadelphia to St. Lucia's Hewanorra Airport.
Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262 in the U.S. and Canada; www.aircanada.ca) has nonstop weekly flights to St. Lucia's Hewanorra Airport that depart from Toronto or Montréal.
British Airways (tel. 800/247-9297 in the U.S.; www.britishairways.com) offers two flights a week from London's Gatwick Airport to St. Lucia's Hewanorra Airport.
LIAT (tel. 888/844-LIAT [5428]; www.liatairline.com) has small planes flying from many points throughout the Caribbean into George F. L. Charles Airport. Points of origin include such islands as Barbados, Antigua, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Martinique. On some LIAT flights, you may visit all these islands before arriving in St. Lucia.
Air Jamaica (tel. 800/523-5585 in the U.S. and Canada; www.airjamaica.com) serves the Hewanorra Airport with nonstop service from New York's JFK 4 days a week.
WestJet (tel. 888/WESTJET [937-8538]; www.westjet.com) offers nonstop service from Toronto to St. Lucia. Flights head out from mid-December to April, arriving in a Boeing 737 at St. Lucia's Hewanorra International Airport.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
