Cape Air: The Backbone of Air Service to Tortola
If you're flying into or out of Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS), Cape Air is almost certainly involved. The Boston-based regional carrier operates the Cessna 402 — a nine-passenger twin-engine turboprop — and runs the most consistent scheduled service connecting Tortola to San Juan and St. Thomas.
Routes from EIS
Cape Air connects Tortola to the two most important regional hubs with multiple daily departures:
- EIS → SJU (San Juan): About 45 minutes. San Juan is the Caribbean's biggest air hub and your gateway to the U.S. mainland, Europe, and beyond.
- EIS → STT (St. Thomas): A short hop — roughly 15 minutes in the air. Essential if you need to connect to a mainline flight at Cyril E. King Airport.
What to Expect on a Cape Air Flight
Flying Cape Air is a uniquely Caribbean experience. The Cessna 402 holds nine passengers, has no overhead bins, no flight attendant, and no beverage service. Your carry-on goes in the nose or tail cargo hold. What you get instead is a low-altitude flight over some of the most spectacular water in the world — the Sir Francis Drake Channel, the BVI islands, and the open Caribbean on approach.
On lighter flights, the co-pilot seat may be open — ask the crew. The view from the front is something you won't forget.
Baggage Rules — Know Before You Pack
Cape Air's weight limits catch travelers off guard regularly. Each passenger is allowed 25 lbs of checked baggage plus one small personal item. On full flights, the crew may hold bags and send them on the next departure. If you're traveling with gear — dive equipment, sailing bags, or large luggage — consider shipping bags ahead via USPS or FedEx, or check Silver Airways for added capacity.
Booking Tips
Book directly at capeair.com. Routes to EIS can fill up quickly during peak BVI sailing season (December through April) and around holidays. Cape Air has interline agreements with American Airlines and JetBlue — meaning your Cape Air leg can be part of a through-ticket from the mainland, simplifying connections and baggage handling.
At EIS — What to Know
Cape Air uses the main terminal at EIS. Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure — arrive at least 45 minutes early. Remember: you clear BVI customs and immigration on arrival, so factor in extra time on that side. After landing at EIS, licensed taxis queue outside the terminal.