Cyril E. King Airport

Cyril E. King Airport (IATA: STT, ICAO: TIST, FAA LID: STT) is a public airport located two miles (3 km) west of the central business district of Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands.[1] It is currently the busiest airport in the United States Virgin Islands, and one of the busiest in the eastern Caribbean, servicing 1,403,000 passengers from July 2015 through June 2016.[2] The airport also serves the island of St. John and is additionally often used by those travelling to the nearby British Virgin Islands.

Cyril E. King Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerVirgin Islands Port Authority
LocationSaint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Focus city forAir Sunshine
Elevation AMSL24 ft / 7 m
Coordinates18°20′14″N 064°58′24″W
Websiteviport.com
Map
STT
Location in the Virgin Islands
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
10/28 7,000 2,134 Asphalt
Statistics (2017)
Aircraft operations61,255
Based aircraft98
The Cyril E. King Airport from an observation overlook

Although passports are not required for U.S. citizens who are visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands, all passengers bound for the United States and Puerto Rico must pass through U.S. Customs and Border Protection screening before boarding their flight. Private planes can either use CBP Preclearance or arrive in the United States as an international arrival.

The airport operates one main runway, 7,000 ft × 150 ft (2,134 m × 46 m) long. The terminal operates 11 gates.

History

In 1927, Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St. Louis on a grassy swamp to the north of what was then called Mosquito Bay (now called Lindbergh Bay in his honor).[3]

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces Sixth Air Force 23rd Fighter Squadron (36th Fighter Group) deployed P-40 Warhawk fighters to the airport from March 1942 – May 1943.[4][5][6]

Historically, a number of airlines operated scheduled passenger jet service into St. Thomas as well as St. Croix in the past. These air carriers included Air Florida with Douglas DC-9-10s, Caribair with McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30s, Eastern Airlines with Boeing 727-100s, 727-200s and 757-200s, Midway Airlines with Boeing 737-200s and MD-87s, Pan Am with Boeing 727-200s as well as A300B4s and A310s, and Trans Caribbean Airways with Boeing 727-200s. One air carrier that has served St. Thomas for many years is American Airlines. In 1974, American was serving the airport with Boeing 707 and Boeing 727-100 jetliners with nonstop flights to New York City. By 1994, American was operating Airbus A300-600R wide-body jets into St. Thomas with nonstop service to Miami.

Also historically the airport hosted Air Force One and Two, respectively, carrying Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Joe Biden using Boeing 707s and later Boeing 757s.

Cyril E. King Airport also hosted a number of charter airliners, from the 757 to the 767 to the DC-10. It was known as Harry S Truman Airport until 1984, when it was renamed to honor Cyril Emmanuel King, the second elected governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.[7] A new passenger terminal opened in November 1990 and retained the name.

Facilities and aircraft

Cyril E. King Airport covers an area of 280 acres (110 ha) which contains one asphalt paved runway (10/28) measuring 7,000 ft × 150 ft (2,134 m × 46 m). For the 12-month period ending September 30, 2017, the airport had 61,255 aircraft operations, an average of 167 per day: 58% air taxi, 14% scheduled commercial, 27% general aviation and 1% military. During the same period, there were 98 aircraft based at this airport: 59% multi-engine, 35% single engine, 3% helicopters, 2% jet engine and 1% ultralight.[1] There is also one flight school at the airport, Ace Flight Center. The St. Thomas Jet Center, on the north side of the runway, handles private aviation.

Terminal

The two-story terminal has 11 gates in two departure areas. The main section serves flights bound for the United States and Puerto Rico. It contains a restaurant and bar, gift shop, and duty-free store. Three smaller departure lounges serve international and St. Croix departures.

Arriving passengers from the United States and Puerto Rico over the age of 18 are greeted with complimentary samples of Cruzan Rum.

Cyril E. King Airport Terminal Expansion, Modernization, and Upgrade Project

There are plans to expand the Cyril E. King Airport terminal to include a second departure lounge on the second floor as well as install jet bridges and move airport offices to the third floor.[8][9] A $230 million modernization plan for the airport was unveiled by Governor Kenneth E. Mapp in June 2019.[10][11]

The airport upgrades will include a pedestrian bridge as well as a ferry terminal to improve transportation.[12][13][14][15]. The architectural firm awarded the task of redesigning and renovating the airport is Lemartec Corporation and Perez & Perez Architects and Planners.

On Tuesday, September 3, 2019 the V.I.P.A. board Approved $175 Million Budget for FY 2020.[16][17]

Delegate Plaskett Announces Three Transportation Grants for V.I. Airports redesign the apron and improve lighting on the Cyril E. King airport runway, as well as to improve the runway at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport.[18][19].

On November 22, 2019, The Transportation Department has awarded $2 million grant to the Cyril E. King Airport's modernization [20][21].

A new version of the St. Thomas Cyril E. King Airport can be viewed here.

VIPA says construction will begin soon on Territory’s Airports on phase one-in April, each of the four phases which can take anywhere from 18 to 24 months to complete, according to V.I.P.A [22], which can take anywhere from 6-8 years at a cost of $250 million.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
Air Sunshine Anguilla, Dominica–Douglas-Charles, Nevis, Saint Croix, Saint Kitts, San Juan, Tortola, Virgin Gorda
American Airlines Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami
Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, New York–JFK, Philadelphia
Cape Air Saint Croix, San Juan
Seasonal: Tortola, Virgin Gorda
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, New York–JFK
Seasonal: Boston
JetBlue New York–JFK (begins October 1, 2020),[23] San Juan
Seasonal: Boston
LIAT Antigua
Sea Flight Airlines Saint Croix
Silver Airways Saint Croix, San Juan
Spirit Airlines Fort Lauderdale, Orlando
Tradewind Aviation Saint Barthélemy
United Airlines Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, San Juan, Washington–Dulles
VI Airlink Anegada, Tortola


Cargo
AirlinesDestinations
Air Sunshine Saint Maarten, San Juan, Anguilla, Nevis, Tortola, Virgin Gorda
Amerijet International Miami
DHL Aviation San Juan
FedEx San Juan

Charter
AirlinesDestinations
National Airlines Orlando
Swift Air New York

Top destinations
Busiest domestic routes from STT
(April 2019 – March 2020)[24]
Rank City Passengers Carrier
1 Miami, Florida 105,930 American
2 San Juan, Puerto Rico 97,140 Air Sunshine, Cape Air, JetBlue, Seaborne
3 Atlanta, Georgia 91,810 Delta
4 New York City, New York 52,200 American, Delta
5 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 47,230 Spirit
6 Christiansted, St. Croix 41,700 Air Sunshine, Cape Air, Seaborne, Sea Flight
7 Charlotte, North Carolina 36,360 American
8 Newark, New Jersey 26,670 United
9 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 25,240 American
10 Washington–Dulles, DC 22,470 United

Airline market share
Largest Airlines at STT
(April 2019 – March 2020)[25]
Rank Airline Passengers Share
1 American Airlines 357,000 30.34%
2 Delta Air Lines 268,000 22.78%
3 JetBlue 155,000 13.16%
4 Spirit Airlines 130,000 11.09%
5 United Airlines 125,000 10.65%
6 Other 141,000 11.98%

Accidents and incidents
  • On December 28, 1970, Trans Caribbean Airways Flight 505 operated with a Boeing 727 jetliner made a hard landing and ran off the side of the runway. Two of the 48 passengers died in the subsequent fire, and the aircraft was then destroyed by the ensuing conflagration.[26]
  • On April 27, 1976, American Airlines Flight 625[27][28] operated with a Boeing 727 jetliner ran off the end of the runway, killing 37 of the 88 on board the aircraft. Following the crash, American Airlines (AA) suspended jet service to the airport and began operating Convair 440 propliners instead for service to nearby St. Croix (STX) and San Juan (SJU) for connections to American mainline jet flights at these airports until the St. Thomas runway was extended to its present length. These CV-440[29] flights were flown by a division of AA, American Inter-Island, as an interim service until American elected to resume mainline jet aircraft operations into St. Thomas with the advent of the longer runway.[30]
  • On March 25, 1977, Douglas C-53 N692A of Island Traders was damaged beyond economic repair in a heavy landing.[31]
  • On September 17, 1989, Douglas DC-3 N4425N, Douglas C-47s N100SD, N4471J and N4577Z; and Douglas C-49J N28346 of Aero Virgin Islands; along with Douglas C-47A N101AP of Four Star Air Cargo; were damaged beyond economic repair by Hurricane Hugo.[32][33][34][35][36][37]
  • On December 30, 2003, Douglas DC-3C N781T of Tol-Air Services was substantially damaged when the starboard undercarriage collapsed on landing after a flight that originated at San Juan, Puerto Rico.[38]
  • On July 19, 2006, Douglas DC-3C N782T of Tol-Air Services ditched into the sea off Charlotte Amalie after an engine failure shortly after take-off from Cyril E. King Airport.[39] All four people on board escaped as the aircraft floated for about ten minutes before sinking.[40] The aircraft now lies in 100 feet (30 m) of water and is a dive site.[41]
  • A Kestrel Convair C-131F, registration N8277Q performing a freight flight from St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands) to unknown destination with 2 crew, departed St. Thomas' runway 28 and was in the initial climb around 07:47L (11:47Z) when the tower observed smoke from the left-hand engine (P&W R-2800). The crew declared emergency reporting an engine fire and loss of hydraulics and initiated a return to St. Thomas' runway 10, where the aircraft touched down but could not slow. The airplane veered right off the runway, broke through the airport fence and came to a stop on a public road parallel to the runway (actually the airport access road). No injuries occurred, the airplane received substantial damage. The airport was closed for several hours. The FAA reported the aircraft went off the runway and received substantial damage.[42]
  • On October 13, 2012, a Piper Aztec, N5553Y, departing nearby St. Croix carrying three passengers, crashed approximately eight miles south of Cyril E. King Airport. There was one survivor. After a year-long investigation, it was determined that the pilot suffered spatial disorientation, descended before he needed to and then crashed into the water.
  • On June 17, 2015, an American Airlines Boeing 757 preparing to fly to John F. Kennedy International Airport was grounded due to a mechanical failure. After returning to the gate, an airport service vehicle collided with the aircraft, severely damaging one of the aircraft's jet engines. No injuries occurred.
  • On September 6, 2017, Hurricane Irma hit the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. There was severe damage to the terminal especially around gate 6. Hurricane Irma was a Category 5 hurricane when it hit the U.S. Virgin Islands. No injuries have been reported.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. FAA Airport Master Record for STT (Form 5010 PDF), retrieved November 27, 2008.
  2. "RITA | BTS | Transtats". www.transtats.bts.gov. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 19, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  7. "Virgin Islands Port Authority | The United States Virgin Islands' Airports and Seaports". www.viport.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  8. https://stthomassource.com/content/2017/12/13/13892/ Archived December 16, 2017, at the Wayback Machine An Expansion Plan Is Given for Cyril E. King Airport
  9. http://viconsortium.com/opinion/letter-to-the-editor-the-stressful-nature-of-air-travel-to-and-from-the-virgin-islands/ Archived February 5, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Letter To The Editor: The Stressful Nature Of Air Travel To And From The Virgin Islands
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  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 24, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. https://stthomassource.com/content/2019/09/03/vipa-board-approves-175-million-budget-for-fy-2020/
  17. https://viconsortium.com/news-2/port-authority-board-approves-funding-for-major-enhancements-at-cyril-e-king-henry-e-rohlsen-airports/
  18. https://stjohnsource.com/2019/09/30/delegate-plaskett-announces-three-transportation-grants-for-v-i-airports/
  19. https://viconsortium.com/news-2/u-s-transportation-secretary-announces-2-8-million-in-infrastructure-grants-to-airports-in-u-s-virgin-islands/
  20. https://stjohnsource.com/2019/11/22/transportation-awards-2-million-grant-to-cyril-e-king-airport/
  21. https://viconsortium.com/vi-travel/virgin-islands-cyril-e-king-airport-receives-2-million-from-u-s-dept-of-transportation-
  22. https://stthomassource.com/content/2020/03/15/vipa-says-construction-to-begin-soon-on-territorys-airports/
  23. "JetBlue Will Add 30 New Routes, Launch Mint® Service at Newark". JetBlue Airways. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  24. "RITA - BTS - Transtats". transtats.bts.gov.
  25. https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1&Airport=STT&Airport_Name=Charlotte%20Amalie,%20VI:%20Cyril%20E%20King&carrier=FACTS
  26. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Trans-Caribbean-Airways/Boeing-727-2A7/0153357/&sid=5cdb96e62b278558790f768d2a776ca1 Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, photos of destroyed Trans Caribbean Airways Boeing 727-200 at St. Thomas
  27. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  30. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch==American%20Inter-Island&distinct_entry=true, photos of American Inter-Island Convair 440 aircraft at St. Thomas operating local flights to STX and SJU
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  32. "N4425N Hull-loss description". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  33. "N100SD Hull-loss description". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  34. "N4471J Hull-loss description". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  35. "N4577Z Hull-loss description". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  36. "N28346 Hull-loss description". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
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  38. "N781T Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2001.
  39. "N782T Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  40. "MIA06LA125". National Transportation Safety Board. Archived from the original on August 29, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  41. "Jul 2006 Gooney bird becomes latest dive site". Blue Island Divers. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
  42. http://avherald.com/h?article=436593dd&opt=0


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