Charter Flights Caribbean, based in Puerto Rico, is another operator that has experienced a sharp slowdown in flights over the summer. Regularly departing from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, the company has been a Part 135 operator since 1997, using the twin Cessna 402. “Right now, like everyone in the industry, we’re having rough times; we are only doing flights to the US Virgin Islands and emergency flights,” says president and director of operations Jose Gonzalez. “On a normal basis, our biggest excitement is landing in Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands.”

After Tortola and Anegada, Virgin Gorda is the third largest and second most populous of the British Virgin Islands, and spans roughly eight square miles. The main town is Spanish Town, on the southwestern part of the island. The biggest attraction in Virgin Gorda is The Baths, a popular beach with distinctive rock formations at the southern end of the island, while to the north there are several destinations frequented by boaters including Saba Rock and Leverick Bay Resort & Marina. “For a small island there are a lot of things to do in Virgin Gorda,” continues Gonzalez. “Our company operates charter flights from San Juan to Virgin Gorda airport, with a special permit from the British aviation authorities, because is a restricted airport with an unpaved, short runway. Our Cessna 402C is equipped with special FAA STC approved wing modifications for landing there.

“During this pandemic our company has been conducting emergency flights for the Red Cross, providing air transportation for blood to hospital with coronavirus patients in the US and BVI.”