Cyril E. King Airport Guide

The Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is the largest international airport in the U.S. Virgin Islands and one of the busiest hubs in the eastern Caribbean. Many direct flights are available for international travelers arriving from the U.S., with non-stop service to St. Thomas from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dulles, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Newark, and New York. Located four miles east of the island's capital, Charlotte Amalie, the 280-acre airport operates 24 hours a day. The two-story terminal is quite busy compared to other airports in the Caribbean, so knowing how to navigate your arrival and departure is a helpful necessity for travelers. Read on for tips on where to park, what to eat, and how to spend your layover at Cyril E. King Airport in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Cyril E. King Airport Code, Location, and Contact Information

• Airport Code: STT / TIST / CEKA
• Location: Airport Rd, Charlotte Amalie West, St Thomas 00802, U.S. Virgin Islands
• Website
• Flight Tracker
• Departures
• Arrivals
• Map: https://flightaware.com/resources/airport/TIST/map
• Phone: +1 340-774-5100

Know Before You Go

The Cyril E. King Airport (STT) is a major hub in the eastern Caribbean, facilitating flights within the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands and additional destinations within the West Indies. Though the airport is open 24-hours a day, the two-story terminal only operates between 6 am and 11 pm. Featuring two departure areas and 11 gates, the airport is fairly easy to navigate and services major international airlines, including American, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, and United. Given the current pandemic, travelers should consult the COVID regulations for entering the U.S. Virgin Islands. As of September 19th, 2020, travelers must provide either a negative COVID-19 test or a positive antibodies test before arriving. Travelers can complete their paperwork online at the USVI Department of Tourism's Online Traveler Portal.

Cyril E. King Airport Parking

Airport parking is easily accessible and fairly inexpensive at STT—the first fifteen minutes are free, and the maximum charge per day is only $10, making overnight parking an enticing proposition. See below for rates:

• First 15 Minutes: Free
• Under 1 Hour: $2
• 1-2 Hours: $4
• 2 - 3 Hours: $6
• 3 - 4 Hours: $8
• 4 - 24 Hours: $10 (maximum charge per day)
• Lost Ticket: $10

Driving Directions

Cyril E. King is located on the waterfront of Lindbergh Bay, on the southwestern coast of St. Thomas (the busiest of the three main islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which includes St. John and St. Croix, as well). For visitors looking to drive during their vacation, the parking lot is right outside the terminal, making for a quick departure. Travelers looking to have their own wheels while on the island should check out the counters at the airport for rentals from Avis, Budget, and Hertz to secure their island vehicle. Accessible via Highway 302, the Cyril E. King Airport is located just four miles east of the capital of Charlotte Amalie. Additionally, the airport is located just under 12 miles from the Red Hook ferry dock (which is where visitors can catch connecting boats to St. John).

Public Transportation and Taxis

While there are no Ubers in St. Thomas, plentiful taxis are awaiting arriving travelers at the ground transportation area of the Cyril E. King airport. Keep an eye out for licensed taxis, as they are metered, and therefore the rate is more stable. The rates for so-called “tourist taxis” tend to be per-person and can vary wildly in price. To verify whether or not your taxi is licensed, look out for the USVI taxi license plate and the service light atop the car. Be sure to negotiate your cab fare cost before entering the vehicle to begin your journey to your hotel. Speaking of which—your hotel should also be able to provide you with transportation to and from the resort, so visitors should potentially plan in advance whether or not they will be boarding a specific caravan or shuttle. Otherwise, the Virgin Islands Taxi Association, Inc. is your best bet for ground transportation, and you can reserve a car by calling in advance at (340) 774-4550. There is also public transportation for travelers looking to save money. The Country Bus travels from the airport into town from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Still, the service and schedule is not very reliable (and therefore not recommended for travelers eager to catch their flight home or start their vacation properly on a timely basis at their final destination).

Where to Eat and Drink

Cheers to your arrival in paradise! Passengers arriving from the United States and Puerto Rico are welcomed on the island with complimentary Cruzan Rum—if they’re over 18, of course (the legal drinking age in the USVI). The pickings are relatively slim in terms of sustenance, so bring snacks to the airport if you have a long layover. The main options for food throughout the terminal are found at The New Ashleys Restaurant (order the pates), Hibiscus Bar and Café (the roast chicken and smoothies are highly recommended), or Cruzan Landing (cocktails recommended). Additionally, snack bars are located at Gate 1 and Baggage Claim.

Wi-Fi and Charging Stations

Departing travelers can access free Wi-Fi by completing a quick survey on their vacation upon logging onto the airport network. The Virgin Island service provider Viya also offers free WiFi hotspots within the airport, accessible via VIYA-FI_FREE_ACCESS. As for mobile phone charging, the airport is currently undergoing a renovation where waiting areas will be outfitted with designated charging areas. This initiative is part of a six-year $250 million renovation to modernize the interior and incorporate additional airport lounges. It is currently estimated that the redesign will be completed in 2026, and changes have already been implemented as of 2020.

Cyril E. King Airport Tips & Facts

• Cyril E. King is not the only international airport located in the U.S. Virgin Islands. While St. John is more remote and doesn’t have an international airport, but there is an international airport located in St. Croix. However, the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix only has one runway and services mainly inter-Caribbean flights. The only direct flights from the USA to St. Croix's international airport are via Miami and Atlanta, so, for most travelers, the Cyril E. King Airport is often your best bet.
• The airport was originally known as Bourne Field and was an airfield for the U.S. military. The Virgin Islands took ownership of the airport after World War Two. The original terminal was first built in the 1940s and called the Harry S. Truman Airport. In 1984, the airport was renamed after the second elected governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands—Cyril E. King.
• Cyril E. King’s runway was expanded from 4,200-feet to 7,000-feet in 1992, making it one of the largest deep-water runways in the Caribbean.
• The busy season at this airport in St. Thomas is similar to the busy season at other international airports in the West Indies: You can always expect more tourists in the colder months. To avoid the increased cost of airfare, visitors should look into booking flights as soon as they’ve decided to take a St. Thomas vacation between December to April (though prices drop mid-month for the latter after Spring Breakers have returned home).