Flight cancellations forthcoming (11/6 - 11/8)...

[garykool81]

We're due to fly into St. Barts on Saturday, November 7th and were warned by our hotel this morning that the airport director was advising them to reach out to guests about the likelihood of severe operations disruptions starting tomorrow through Sunday due to westerly winds, which create a hazardous operating environment with the airport here. Sure enough, Tradewind contacted us moments later to advise that all flights are being suspended in/out of SBH from Friday through Sunday.

We managed to reroute our airline flight to the Caribbean to SXM (St. Maarten) with a plan of taking the ferry over instead. Fingers crossed operations for the larger commercial jets at SXM are not equally impacted since they also have a runway with east/west orientation.

Right now, it looks like St. Barth Commuter has also posted a warning on their website stating that flights are likely to be cancelled from Friday through Sunday this week due to the winds.

 

[Jim A]

Tradewind already officially cancelled flights from Friday through Sunday and I stopped in at the Winair desk at SBH and they confirmed they did as well - incoming and outgoing.

Supposedly, as per the Tradewind associate, high surf is expected for the ferry so take your Dramamine!!!!

 

[garykool81]

Tradewind already officially cancelled flights from Friday through Sunday and I stopped in at the Winair desk at SBH and they confirmed they did as well - incoming and outgoing.

Supposedly, as per the Tradewind associate, high surf is expected for the ferry so take your Dramamine!!!!

Yes, definitely will be bringing motion sickness medication as I do not do well in rough seas. Part of me worries if the ferries will operate or not, but they are surely less impacted by the winds vs. the planes so long as they can safely dock in the harbor. Of course, that assumes our flight to SXM is not canceled due to the westerly winds that create a tailwind on arrival there. Fun times... :-\

 

[Leon]

I might be overly optimistic, but at this moment SBC site is saying that there will be disruptions but not yet full stoppage:

 

[erikb923]

Had the same thing happen a couple of years ago from SFG-SBH. St Barth Commuter check in lady just said take a taxi to Marigot for the Voyager Ferry and take a photo of all the receipts and they reimbursed us. That was something. Goodluck to those impacted.

 

[cassidain]

Helicopter

 

[Leon]

 

[cassidain]

looks like winds current S by W but shifting gradually Westward for next few days
looks like Tuesday before they shift back to the East

 

[Leon]

Winair cancelled all SBH flights today as I was told. SBC is flying from Case for time being. Winair flights from Nevis and Dominica arrived to SXM.

 

[EC Traveler]

Windy.com is a good tool to use for real time wind conditions and forecasts. At present it’s showing winds out of the Southwest, creating a cross wind condition at the Airport.
Normal Tradewind directions are Easterly, clocking from Northeast to Southeast depending on the time of year. Westerlies are very unusual in The Caribbean.
The culprit is a Sub-Tropical spin up in the Atlantic just West of the Bahamas. As noted, normal conditions are expected to return on Tuesday.
Bonne Chance!

 

[Popeyeskid]

We got out this morning on the 10 AM SBC flight. “Backwards” landing in SXM, over the land instead of the sea. A little bumpy of a flight, but overall smooth. I am told we were one of the last, if not THE last flight. Now here we sit in SXM waiting for our arriving Jet Blue flight that was delayed out of FLL this morning. Will be a long day for sure, but all part of traveling.

 

[amyb]

We were lucky to be on island for bonus days. When weather, usually snow, screwed up northern airports.

Stay calm safe travels wished for you.

 

[dadto6]

SBC flew most of the day albeit with 1/2 the passenger load. I spoke with a representative with SBC at the SBH airport while exploring our options. The flights were doubled to accommodate all with prior tickets to minimize the weight of the aircraft. No Winair flights or Tradewind flights. Anita and I are taking the helicopter out tomorrow to SXM while the getting is good; connecting to a United flight home. We were originally scheduled for Sunday on Tradewind to SJU; connecting to an United flight home. Coupled with power cuts and flight difficulties put a damper on this trip.

 

[Jim A]

There were some planes today, but not very many and big blocks of time where we didn’t see or hear any. Seemed like around 3:30 there was some “action”

 

[Jim A]

SBC flew most of the day albeit with 1/2 the passenger load. I spoke with a representative with SBC at the SBH airport while exploring our options. The flights were doubled to accommodate all with prior tickets to minimize the weight of the aircraft. No Winair flights or Tradewind flights. Anita and I are taking the helicopter out tomorrow to SXM while the getting is good; connecting to a United flight home. We were originally scheduled for Sunday on Tradewind to SJU; connecting to a United flight home. Coupled with power cuts and flight difficulties put a damper on this trip.

Good luck dad!!!

 

[cec1]

SBC flew most of the day albeit with 1/2 the passenger load. I spoke with a representative with SBC at the SBH airport while exploring our options. The flights were doubled to accommodate all with prior tickets to minimize the weight of the aircraft. No Winair flights or Tradewind flights. Anita and I are taking the helicopter out tomorrow to SXM while the getting is good; connecting to a United flight home. We were originally scheduled for Sunday on Tradewind to SJU; connecting to an United flight home. Coupled with power cuts and flight difficulties put a damper on this trip.

Very sorry for you and Anita to have to cut the trip short. Have a lovely farewell evening!

 

[cassidain]

Anita and I are taking the helicopter out tomorrow to SXM while the getting is good; connecting to a United flight home.

bunny day

 

[cassidain]

i imagine in events like this, single ticketing thru to SBH via an inter airline cooperation would have advantages . . . if the two airlines, in fact, respond as "partners" ???

 

[dadto6]

Mysteriously, United Airlines just cancelled the flight today departing SXM. Guess I will enjoy a nice sightseeing trip on the helicopter.

 

[amyb]

Mysteriously, United Airlines just cancelled the flight today departing SXM. Guess I will enjoy a nice sightseeing trip on the helicopter.

Safe travels, friends