What is now the modern Cyril E. King Airport was originally a simple runway and airplane hanger built for the use of the US Air Force. In 1950, this facility was upgraded and became the Harry S. Truman Airport. When jet aircraft began flights to the Virgin Islands, the short runway (4,658 feet) could barely accommodate them. Jets could land at the airport, although with some difficulty, but the runway was not long enough to allow them to take off with a full fuel tank. For this reason, jets would have to take off from St. Thomas with only small amounts of fuel and then make a stop at St. Croix to refuel.
In 1976, American Airlines Flight 625, ran off the runway killing 37 of the 88 passengers and crew on board. Although it was pilot error and not the short runway that was ultimately found to be the cause of the crash, American Airlines suspended jet service to St. Thomas after the incident.
Subsequently, the runway was lengthened by cutting away the mountain on one end and filling in the bay on the other. The terminal was renovated and on October 3, 1984, the present airport was dedicated and renamed the Cyril E. King Airport, after a former governor of the Virgin Islands.
The 7,000-foot runway, the same length as the runway at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, can now accommodate wide-body jets.
St. John Live Music Schedule
Aqua Bistro
Steven Sloan
5:30 – 8:30
340-776-5336
Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
T-Bird
7:00 – 9:00
340-201-1236
Beach Bar
Brother Nature
9:00
340-777-4220
Castaway’s
Mikey P
9:00
Dance Party
11:00
340-777-3316
Cinnamon Bay
Eddie Bruce – Drumming
6:30 -8:30
340-776-6330
High Tide
Mikey P
5:00 – 8:00
340-714-6169
Island Blues
Brother Nature
8:00
340-776-6800
Morgan’s Mango
Lauren
6:30 – 9:30
340-693-8141
Ocean Grill
Rascio on Steel Pan
6:30 – 9:30
340-693-3304
Rhumb Lines
Erin Hart
7:00 – 10:00
340-776-0303
Shipwreck Landing
Tropical Sounds
6:30 – 9:30
340-693-5640
Skinny Legs
Chris Carsel
6:00
340-779-4982
Spyglass
James Milne
5:00 – 8:00
340-776-1100
Virgin Fire
Aussie Guitars
The David T Carter Duo
6:00 – 9:00
340-779-4982
See Weekly Schedule
St. John Weather
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 78. East northeast wind around 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.
DAY ONE…TODAY AND TONIGHT
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL ONCE AGAIN DEVELOP AFTER MID-MORNING AND WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING ACROSS THE ISLANDS AND ADJACENT WATERS.
DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE AREA WILL CONTINUE TO DEEPEN TODAY FORMING A CLOSED LOW NORTH OF OUR AREA BEGINNING TONIGHT. AS IT DOES SO…THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME MORE HUMID AND UNSTABLE WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS BECOMING MORE NUMEROUS AND INTENSE ESPECIALLY ON FRIDAY. MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL…GUSTY WINDS AND LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS. THIS WET AND ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST THE WEEKEND.
