Air St. Thomas
Encyclopedia
Air St. Thomas was an airline
based on the island of St. Thomas
, in the United States Virgin Islands
. It operated regular and charter passenger services. Its main base was Cyril E. King Airport
, St Thomas. It ceased operations in December 2005
, Aero Virgin Islands
and Vieques Air Link
, among others. Because of this, the airline concentrated mainly on intra island flights.
Puerto Rico International Airlines flew from 1966 to 1984, and Aero Virgin Islands flew until 2000. While Vieques Air Link still flies, Air St. Thomas didn't face that airline directly, as Vieques Air Link does not fly to St. Thomas. One of Air St. Thomas largest competitors was American Eagle
, however. American Eagle is financially backed by American Airlines
.
After Puerto Rico International Airlines and Aero Virgin Islands began to slowly pull away from the market, Air St. Thomas began to grow, adding flights, specifically to Puerto Rican
airport
s, and to some other areas. The airline officially became an international airline when it added flights to the British Virgin Islands
. The airline was owned by Paul Wikander (51%) and M Wikander (49%).
In December 2005, Air St. Thomas owner, Paul Wikander, made his final scheduled flight (from Fajardo, Puerto Rico
to St. Thomas) ending 35 years of operation in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Air St. Thomas had stopped flying to Saint-Barthélemy in 2004 after it was named among five airlines "blacklisted" by the French government because of alleged maintenance violations. Wikander believed the ban was "political" and reiterated his airline's strong safety record of just one minor injury in 35 years.
, Fajardo
, San Juan
and Virgin Gorda
.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
based on the island of St. Thomas
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
, in the United States Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands of the United States are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.The U.S...
. It operated regular and charter passenger services. Its main base was Cyril E. King Airport
Cyril E. King Airport
-Cargo:*Ameriflight *Four Star Aviation*FedEx-Accidents and incidents:On December 28, 1970, Trans Caribbean Airways Flight 505 made a hard landing and ran off the side of the runway. Two of the 48 passengers died in the subsequent fire....
, St Thomas. It ceased operations in December 2005
Code data
- IATAInternational Air Transport AssociationThe International Air Transport Association is an international industry trade group of airlines headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the International Civil Aviation Organization is also headquartered. The executive offices are at the Geneva Airport in SwitzerlandIATA's mission is to...
Code: ZP - ICAO Code: STT
History
The airline was established in 1975 and was known as Virgin Air until 1984. Through the 1970s and well into the 1990s, Air St. Thomas faced stiff competition from Puerto Rico International AirlinesPrinair
Prinair was a Puerto Rican airline. It was Puerto Rico's domestic and international flag carrier airline for almost two decades.- History :Services began in 1966, under the name Aerolíneas de Ponce , with Aero Commanders...
, Aero Virgin Islands
Aero Virgin Islands
Aero Virgin Islands was an airline based in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.-History:Aero Virgin Islands Corp. began operating in the Caribbean during the late 1970s...
and Vieques Air Link
Vieques Air Link
Vieques Air Link is a small Puerto Rican airline company that links Vieques with Culebra and mainland Puerto Rico.- History :Operations began on 1965, with owner Osvaldo "Val" Gonzalez-Duriex piloting a plane with three passengers from Vieques to Humacao...
, among others. Because of this, the airline concentrated mainly on intra island flights.
Puerto Rico International Airlines flew from 1966 to 1984, and Aero Virgin Islands flew until 2000. While Vieques Air Link still flies, Air St. Thomas didn't face that airline directly, as Vieques Air Link does not fly to St. Thomas. One of Air St. Thomas largest competitors was American Eagle
American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
, however. American Eagle is financially backed by American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
.
After Puerto Rico International Airlines and Aero Virgin Islands began to slowly pull away from the market, Air St. Thomas began to grow, adding flights, specifically to Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
s, and to some other areas. The airline officially became an international airline when it added flights to the British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...
. The airline was owned by Paul Wikander (51%) and M Wikander (49%).
In December 2005, Air St. Thomas owner, Paul Wikander, made his final scheduled flight (from Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Fajardo is a small city in Puerto Rico located in the east region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Ceiba and east of Luquillo.Fajardo is spread over 7 wards and Downtown Fajardo , which serves as the administrative center of the city...
to St. Thomas) ending 35 years of operation in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Air St. Thomas had stopped flying to Saint-Barthélemy in 2004 after it was named among five airlines "blacklisted" by the French government because of alleged maintenance violations. Wikander believed the ban was "political" and reiterated his airline's strong safety record of just one minor injury in 35 years.
Destinations
Air St Thomas flew to the following international scheduled destinations (at January 2005): CulebraCulebra, Puerto Rico
Isla Culebra is an island-municipality of Puerto Rico originally called Isla Pasaje and Isla de San Ildefonso. It is located approximately east of the Puerto Rican mainland, west of St. Thomas and north of Vieques. Culebra is spread over 5 wards and Culebra Pueblo...
, Fajardo
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Fajardo is a small city in Puerto Rico located in the east region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Ceiba and east of Luquillo.Fajardo is spread over 7 wards and Downtown Fajardo , which serves as the administrative center of the city...
, San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
and Virgin Gorda
Virgin Gorda
Virgin Gorda is the third-largest and second most populous of the British Virgin Islands . Located at approximately 18 degrees, 48 minutes North, and 64 degrees, 30 minutes West, it covers an area of about...
.
External links
- Air St Thomas
- Island Flights - St. Thomas to St. Croix