Tradewind Aviation: The Shared-Seat Charter That Takes You to St Barth Nonstop

History and positioning

Unlike a classic private charter, Tradewind sells the single seat rather than the entire aircraft, positioning itself as a premium alternative to the often overcrowded seasonal commercial routes to the same vacation destinations.

The fleet

The Pilatus PC-12NG, a pressurized single-engine turboprop configured for eight or nine passengers, was chosen precisely for its short-runway performance, indispensable for operating at airports like Gustaf III in St Barth or other small Caribbean runways.

Routes and network

In summer the network links White Plains and Oxford to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard; in winter the focus shifts to the Caribbean, with links from San Juan or St Thomas to St Barth, Virgin Gorda and Anguilla, islands where a conventional airliner simply cannot operate.

What passengers say

• Direct access to runways closed to airliners, without going through a conventional terminal.
• Quick boarding and attentive cabin service, helped by the small size of the aircraft.

What holds the experience back

• Fares noticeably higher than a commercial itinerary with a connection, where available.
• Tight baggage weight limits, because the PC-12's capacity is split between passengers and suitcases.
• Schedules built on seasonal demand more than on a fixed timetable all year round.

Tradewind makes the most sense for those who need to reach St Barth or islands with equally short runways, where an airliner simply cannot land. For routes already well served by a direct commercial flight, the price premium is hard to justify. It is best to travel with light luggage and check in advance the per-passenger weight limit indicated by the airline, because on the PC-12 hold space depends much more on the total load than on an airliner.