I recently detailed my experience at St. Barts Airport (SBH), which undoubtedly ranks as one of the most impressive airports globally for aviation enthusiasts. While the typical way to travel to and from St. Barts is by flying with Winair via Sint Maarten (SXM), we opted for a change during our latest visit and chose to fly Tradewind Aviation in one direction.
Tradewind is an intriguing little airline with a foothold in both the Northeastern United States and the Caribbean, offering a splendid passenger experience, complete with amiable staff, a lounge (in San Juan), and cozy Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. Although flying with this carrier is not inexpensive, it’s undoubtedly a pleasant option to consider.
An overview of Tradewind Aviation’s fleet & routes
Tradewind Aviation was established in 2001 and is headquartered in Oxford, Connecticut. The premise is that the company operates as a Part 135 operator in the United States, providing both scheduled and private charter flights.
In some respects, think of this as similar to JSX, which means it’s not precisely an “airline,” since it doesn’t operate under Part 121. During the previous administration, there was an attempt to tighten regulations on the “public charter” concept, but ultimately, nothing significant came from it.
Anyway, Tradewind Aviation maintains a fleet of 38 Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, with an additional 11 units on order. Each of these planes is configured to accommodate up to eight passengers. The Pilatus PC-12 is truly a formidable aircraft.
Despite having just one engine, it’s well-known as the most adaptable and competent single-engine turboprop available, displaying jet-like performance. While I consider the aircraft to be extremely safe, I must confess that flying over water in a single-engine plane does momentarily give me pause, but let’s not dwell on that.
Tradewind primarily operates across three areas. The airline has a hub in San Juan (SJU), from which it services nearby Caribbean islands, with flights to St. Barts (SBH) being the most frequent route.
Tradewind also operates between Florida and the Bahamas, offering flights out of Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Stuart (SUA).
Finally, Tradewind has a Northeast network, mainly focused on seasonal flights to Martha’s Vineyard (MVY) and Nantucket (ACK).
For what it’s worth, we secured a one-way ticket from San Juan to St. Barts for just under $600 per person, which is the lowest fare available in the market on Tradewind. That’s certainly not inexpensive, but:
– Tradewind provides a very pleasant experience, including a lounge in San Juan, which makes waiting for flights considerably more enjoyable
– There’s significant convenience in connecting through San Juan compared to Sint Maarten — it’s far more streamlined, and the immigration process is simpler
– I discovered award availability in business class from Miami to San Juan but not to Sint Maarten, resulting in notable savings
– We ended up being the sole passengers on the flight, making it quite a bargain for what ultimately felt like a private charter 😉
– I relish exploring new flight experiences, so I appreciated this chance
Tradewind Aviation ground experience & lounge
We arrived in San Juan from Miami and had a layover of about two hours before our Tradewind flight, allowing for a little bit of extra time. We found the ground experience to be completely smooth. The airline’s check-in area and lounge are located in Terminal A, which is otherwise utilized by JetBlue.
Upon entering the terminal, the signage for Tradewind was unmistakable, and there was no wait at check-in. The agents were extremely friendly, and we received our boarding passes in a flash.
Next, we were invited to use the lounge, situated one level above the check-in area, as that’s also where the private security checkpoint for Tradewind flights is located.
Once you reach the upper level, you’ll find the Tradewind lounge right there.
It’s somewhat of a temporary facility, but ultimately it includes all the necessary amenities, with ample seating, snacks and beverages, and Wi-Fi (though power outlets were scarce). Quite strangely, for the over 90 minutes we spent in the lounge, we were the only visitors. Despite the numerous flights the airline operates, no one else arrived.
So indeed, we had no trouble finding a place to sit. 😉
The lounge features a self-service food & drink area, with a variety of packaged snacks (both sweets and savory), yogurt, packaged cheese platters, coffee, soft drinks, beer, water, and more.
As your flight is ready