Air Travel to Anguilla

There are two main ways to get to Anguilla...

1) Fly to St. Martin and ferry over to Anguilla,

2) Air travel to Anguilla direct.

From our hometown in Canada, Montreal, we have made the trek to Anguilla both ways.

We love the Anguilla airport, but flying through St. Martin is our favorite way to get to Anguilla. Let me explain...

My Favorite Way To Travel to Anguilla

If you live in Paris, getting to Anguilla through air travel is a breeze (on a breeze, actually). Why?

Because St. Martin is a french Caribbean island that lies just a few miles south of Anguilla. France flies jumbo jets, loaded with tourists, so you can get some great discount air fares to St. Martin, according to all the ads we've seen in their newspapers.

Those jets are also packed with french wine, foie gras and all kinds of other french goodies, which is why St. Martin is our favorite day trip from Anguilla.

So, if you're coming to Anguilla from Europe, the best way is air travel through Paris. Then simply ride your plane tickets non-stop into St. Martin.

From there, we highly recommend an Anguilla ferry to get to Anguilla!

What if you are flying to Anguilla from North America? Catch a direct flight from your nearest major airport to Princess Juliana Airport in "St. Maarten" (the Dutch side). It's the best way to travel to Anguilla. Just 1 flight, and then 1 ferry over to Anguilla! Easy, done.

Click here for more information on catching the Anguilla ferry once you get to SXM (St. Maarten).

Air Travel to Anguilla Airport Direct

What about air travel directly to Anguilla from North America? It's a different story. No jumbos. The final leg of your air travel is most likely from Puerto Rico.

There are two ways to fly into Anguilla's airport (Wallblake Airport, AXA):

Daily American Eagle flight from San Juan Puerto Rico

Yes, it's a hassle to get to Anguilla. But that's the barrier that helps keep Anguilla so special. It also prevents Anguilla from going "package tour" and "mass market." (Same goes for their lack of cruise ships.)

It's worth a bit of extra bother when you can have even the most popular beach in Anguilla (and the best in the Caribbean at that) almost all to yourself.

Prop planes used to be the only means of air travel to Anguilla. Here's why...

You are looking at the entire airport. It's a picture-perfect, charming little Caribbean airport, the kind you see in movies. Friendly. Cozy. Even the customs agents are nice!

If you spend a while watching the comings and goings, you will notice that most flights to and from AXA are still prop planes. Exotic-sounding Caribbean airlines (such as LIAT, Winair) raise romantic images of Caribbean island hopping.

Click here for more information about Wallblake, the Anguilla Airport (AXA).

(Note Anguilla Airport Update 2010: The Anguilla Airport has a new name, click here for more information.)

The American Eagle turboprop that you see above and below used to be the biggest plane that could land or take off from the short runway...

That changed in 2005 though (see the Anguilla airport updates at the bottom of this page).

Air travel directly to Anguilla is generally through the major Caribbean hub, which is Puerto Rico, or via smaller Caribbean airlines directly from other islands.

American Eagle is the major airline in this area. You can find some excellent discount airfares for air travel to Anguilla through Puerto Rico, especially in the off-season (August is our favorite time!).

In 2009, Anguilla started its own airline to help tourists directly into AXA.

Finally, St. Martin has many charters flying in all year long. While you won't find any charters into Anguilla, do check locally. Charter flights often run at deep discount air fares.

No matter how you do it, air travel to Anguilla is a bit of a hassle. Many Anguillians think they should have a mega-airport and start flying big jumbo jets in there too (one almost did land in Anguilla! It scared everyone on the island, before the pilot realized his mistake at the last second!).

But a major airport in Anguilla would spoil the island. Anguilla would lose all the little things that make it the special magical place that it is. My family and I are more than happy to take that extra flight to Anguilla... any time!

More Anguilla Travel Information

1) Wallblake Anguilla Airport (AXA)
Before the big 2005 update, the Anguilla airport (Wallblake airport) was really just a teeny Caribbean airport. No 747s, or even 737s, allowed! Click here to read about the original Anguilla airport.

2) 2005 Anguilla Airport Update
Since I first wrote this page, the Anguilla airport (especially the runway) has received quite a makeover! Click here for the Anguilla Airport 2005 update, including new information about the fastest, cheapest and most relaxed way to get to Anguilla now. Anguilla airport's charming "teeniness" otherwise remains the same.

3) 2010 Anguilla Airport Update
July 4 2010 marks a significant change in Anguilla airport history. The Anguilla airport has changed its official name. "Wallblake Airport" is no more. Click here to read the Anguilla airport 2010 update.

3) Anguilla Airways Direct to the Anguilla Airport
Flying to Anguilla directly has always been a challenge. Montreal-JFK, JFK-San Juan, San Juan-Anguilla was always a long day. The trip became impossible once American Eagle started cutting their flights from San Juan to Anguilla. But now there is a new Anguilla airline that flies direct from San Juan three times a day. Sounds like a great options!

4) Our Favorite Anguilla Flights: Anguilla Air Services
Anguilla Air Services is our favorite Anguilla airline. Captain Carl Thomas ensures your safety and security aboard his well maintained aircrafts. He flies to many different islands in the Caribbean, but our favorite Anguilla flight? The aerial tour of Anguilla! It's a must-do on every Anguilla vacation.