Most major airlines fly to the Caribbean. But once you get there, if you want to go between islands, it’s a very different story. For island hoppers, businesspeople, family visitors or island explorers, there are all kinds of airlines servicing routes near and far. These are the best “regional” airlines in the Caribbean — the ones that fly between the islands (although some of them fly to the US and Europe, too). In other words, this is how you fly around the Caribbean.
Seaborne Airlines
This was our of Airline of the Year in 2014, and it’s a dynamic, innovative, well-run carrier. The fast-growing Puerto Rico based company has in large part filled the void left by the departure of American Eagle. It serves destinations all over the region, including Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe, the BVI and even seaplane service in the USVI, among other stops.
Caribbean Airlines
A Caribbean legacy. Based in Trinidad, it does a great job of connecting some of the region’s far corners, particularly with its transatlantic service to London and flights to Fort Lauderdale, Miami and New York. And within the region, it connects destinations from Jamaica to St Maarten to Guyana and more.
Air Caraïbes
You may not have heard of it, but this is one of the best ways to reach and get around the French Caribbean, from St Martin to Guadeloupe to Martinique. It even flies to France.
InselAir
This rapidly-expanding Dutch Caribbean carrier has major hubs in Curacao and Aruba, and connects all of the ABC islands along with Haiti, Jamaica, Santo Domingo and new South American markets. It also offers the only direct flights from the US to Bonaire.
Cayman Airways
It’s a very friendly airline that serves more destinations than you think — it serves the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, Miami, New York and they even give you complimentary rum punch. How can we argue with that?
Winair
Based in St Maarten, this is great airline that serves both Saba and Statia along with destinations including St Kitts, Nevis, Guadeloupe, Tortola and Dominica, among others. But perhaps most crucial are the company’s 15-20 daily flights from St Maarten to St Barth.
Cape Air
While the carrier originally launched in Nantucket, it’s become a de facto Caribbean airline with wide service based out of San Juan. Whether you’re heading to Vieques or even St Kitts and Nevis, it’s a well-run company with very frequent and easy to modify flights.
InterCaribbean Airways
Formerly Air Turks and Caicos, this carrier has its sights on the region, with ever-expanding options out of Providenciales to destinations including Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas, and even launched its own frequent flyer programme called Cacique.
SVG Air
SVG does a combination of private and charter service, and offers a way to get to some destinations that are particularly hard to reach, from Carriacou to Mustique to Bequia. In the wider Grenadines region, this is the best bet by far.
Tradewind Aviation
This the Caribbean’s most luxurious regional airline, a boutique carrier that services more high-end destinations like Nevis, Anguilla and St Barth (and Antigua most recently) with a base of operations in San Juan. The carrier also offers private charters in its well-appointed planes.
LIAT
LIAT provides a very important service to the region based on its size and very wide route network. While it has its share of complaints and service struggles, it’s also one of the best ways to go between many of these islands.
Bahamasair
The Bahamas’ national carrier is the best way to get around the islands of the Bahamas. There’s frequent service out of South Florida, and once you get to the Nassau hub you can get to just about anywhere in the archipelago.
Air Antilles Express
A French Caribbean regional carrier that’s another to travel between the French islands. In recent years, they’ve expanded their network to islands like Antigua, Dominica, Santo Domingo and San Juan, along with French Guiana.