Private charter during the COVID-19 outbreak

We are fully operational and available for short notice on-demand private charter and future flight planning, during the current coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Contact our flight team about your flight requirements.

Where can you fly by private airplane during the COVID-19 outbreak? We now have an island-by-island rundown of current flight and passenger restrictions across the Caribbean. 

Being agile and reactive, the private charter business is able to operate last minute flights within what’s operationally possible. And to react immediately, as and when travel restrictions are lifted again (something we are watching very closely).

We are doing everything we can to keep passengers moving, wherever they need to reach – especially with few airline routes currently operating. Since the crisis began, we have flown many passengers between a variety of Caribbean destinations and beyond. Many have been short notice requests (within 1-5 days).

At Caribbean Flights, we are taking this crisis situation extremely seriously. Our Safety Officers in both the Caribbean and the US are working closely with our teams and our operator suppliers, so that we can continue to arrange flights for our clients, working within the travel restrictions that are increasingly being put in place – and while taking every precaution to protect passengers and crews.

The FAA, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and local authorities are issuing guidelines for aircraft operators and airports to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, including additional cleaning protocols, and clear operational recommendations for how to handle and contain any suspected cases.

Private aviation allows passengers to use smaller airports and fly in a private cabin, therefore avoiding lots of social interactions throughout a trip. But in addition, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, every step of the journey has been reviewed, to protect passengers and crew further still.

Some airports (San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Martinique, Barbados ..) have a separate private terminal, also known as an FBO, which accommodates private jet passengers and crews. This building is set apart from the main airport terminal, so private passengers can avoid this altogether. Passengers generally spend very little time in the FBO, so they are very calm and uncrowded spaces. There are lounge facilities but most passengers prefer to go directly to their aircraft soon after arrival. Security and immigration checks are made of course, but there are no queues, and they are very fast and efficient. Since the start of the pandemic, FBO staff has been wearing masks and gloves, with hand sanitizer made widely available to passengers and crew members. The number of social interactions has been reduced to a minimum, so passengers will only interact with one or two staff members during their short time at the FBO.

Previously the private aircraft captain would have met his passengers in the FBO and would have shaken their hands before accompanying them to the aircraft. This is now different – the captain will still greet the passengers, and communicate with them fully. But this is all done at more of a distance, with a welcome wave, rather than a handshake.

Inside the cabin and during the flight, crew members now remain at a distance, wherever possible. We’re advising our customers to opt for a larger cabin aircraft if they wish to keep their distance from other passengers and crew. Where possible, facemasks, gloves, and hand sanitizers are available onboard for both passenger and crew use.

Pre-flight Screening:

All passengers will be required to complete a health questionnaire prior to flying to ensure safety for other passengers and crew. Some of these forms are published by the authorities and must be provided at check-in or upon arrival. Passengers must declare that they are free of symptoms and have not been in contact with someone who is known to have the COVID-19 virus. Additionally, passengers must agree to comply with any stay at home or quarantine orders in place at the destination.

We are currently available for private charter throughout the Caribbean. Please contact us for the latest travel restrictions for your routing or destination.