Antigua Airport

Antigua Airport
Gateway to Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua. As the gateway to Antigua and Barbuda, Antigua airport serves as an important connecting point to the Lesser Antilles, and these beautiful islands of Antigua and Barbuda make a great destination for a vacation.

Airport

The V.C. Byrd International Airport (ANU) offers non-stop flights from the United States and Europe as well as connecting flights via San Juan (1 hour) and neighboring St. Maarten/St. Martin. (photo: 365Antigua).

Major Airlines Served.
Large intercontinental jets fly to Antigua directly non-stop from the United States, including Delta (Atlanta), United (Newark--4 hours), American (Miami) and US Airways (Charlotte) as well as Canada, including Air Canada (Montreal and Toronto) and Canjet Airlines (Montreal) and Europe, including British Airways (London--8 hours) and Virgin Atlantic.

Caribbean Carriers. Within the Caribbean, travel is usually on regional jets, turboprops and smaller planes. San Juan, Puerto Rico is the major connecting point for the Lesser Antilles. Other regularly scheduled, flights to/from Antigua by local carriers include Liat (St. Maarten, Anguilla, St. Lucia, Dominica, Bridgetown, St. Kitts, Guadeloupe), Caribbean Airlines (Kingston, Trinidad), Condor (Puerta Plata), Air St. Kitts/Nevis, Carib Aviation, and FlyMontserrat (Montserrat). Carib Aviation offers charter service to Barbuda and other nearby islands.

Ground Transport. The most economical way to get around, rental cars are available at the airport, as well as taxis.

Barbuda. Neighboring Barbuda has regularly scheduled ferry service, but only charter flights to its Codrington Airport (BBQ).

Ferry Service. Ferry service is available to Barbuda on the Barbuda Express, a high speed catamaran, from the dock at St. John's Redcliffe Quay.

St. John. The cosmopolitan capital of Antigua, St. John is famous for its historic shopping areas and boutiques with designer jewelry and haute-couture clothing. St John is a popular cruise destination as well.

St. John's Heritage Quay Cruise Port

Within a few blocks of the cruise piers are Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay, where old dockside warehouses have been converted to shops and restaurants. (photo: CruiseTimetables). Restaurants. Dining choices near the cruise piers include Hemingway's Caribbean Cafe at Heritage Quay, known for its grilled fresh grilled fish and curried chicken dishes, and Big Banana Pizzas in Paradise at Redcliffe Quay, with excellent NY-style thin pizzas, bbq chicken pizza and pizzas loaded with fruit toppings.

Accommodations. St. John and Antigua have a wide variety of accommodations (see info and rates).

Flights to the British Virgin Islands. Many carriers offer direct flights to Tortola's Beef Island airport from Antigua, making this route an attractive alternative route to the British Virgin Islands in order to avoid the congestion at San Juan airport.

Multi-National Archipelago. Offering great opportunities for day trips or side excursions, this archipelago of nearby islands is multi-national, sharing St. Maarten/St. Martin's dual Dutch/French personality, as St. Barths is French, Saba and Statia are Dutch and Anguilla and Antigua are British.

US Non-Stop/Connecting Airports. The major US airports for non-stop flights to the Caribbean as well connecting service include Miami (American), New York (American, JetBlue, Delta), Atlanta (Delta with the world's largest hub), Chicago (United and American,) Los Angeles (United and American), Philadelphia (US Airlines), Houston (Continental) and Dallas Fort Worth (American, the most important Caribbean carrier, with its main US hub).

Delays and Overnight Bag. Luggage and flights may be delayed so carry on an overnight bag with a day's necessities, including medicines, clothing and a bathing suit as well as reading material and snacks if desired.