PROVIDENCIALES is the third most popular destination in the Caribbean for private jet passengers, according to a magazine report.

A total of 1,374 passengers arrived at Providenciales International Airport between November 2013 and April 2014 bringing nearly US$95 million into the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), Elite Traveller Magazine has reported.

It was only surpassed by Nassau in the Bahamas and St Maarten which together attracted more than 5,500 private passengers last winter.

The information is contained in Elite Traveller’s top 10 destinations that enjoyed the benefits of private jet charter flights during last year’s peak winter season.

“Elite Traveller Magazine tracks the jet stream of the super rich and chronicles the vacations and purchasing habits of affluent travellers across the world,” Editor-in-chief Douglas D Gollan was quoted in a report in the TCI Sun. “We continue to see the Caribbean as one of the preferred destinations for our readers, especially those travelling by private jets and mega-yachts.”

According to the Sun report, Private jet charter operator PrivateFly’s analysis of flight activity to the Caribbean said that 12,566 flights landed in the islands resulting in a revenue of US$867 million. Nassau, St Maarten and the Turks and Caicos Islands lead the way, accounting for half of those flights with 6,922 arrivals and a spend of nearly US$478 million.

According to the Sun report, Private jet charter operator PrivateFly’s analysis of flight activity to the Caribbean said that 12,566 flights landed in the islands resulting in a revenue of US$867 million. Nassau, St Maarten and the Turks and Caicos Islands lead the way, accounting for half of those flights with 6,922 arrivals and a spend of nearly US$478 million.

PrivateFly’s marketing head Carol Cork said that charter is only about one-third of private jet activity — the rest being owned jets and fractionally owned jets. So it is more likely that elite travellers will bring billions of dollars in spending to the Caribbean in the coming months.

Based on data from Prince and Associates showing that private jets bring an average of US$69,000 in spend to the destinations they visit (excluding fuel and landing fees), private jet travellers brought some US$867 million in spending to the destinations where the top 10 airports were located, the Sun reported.

Recently, a private Boeing 727 with a family of 20 from Nebraska arrived at Providenciales to spend 10 days at Beaches Resort, according to Cork.

Luis Munoz Marin Airport in San Juan, one of four private jet airports serving Puerto Rico, was the gateway for US$88 million to enter the territory’s economy.

Abaco in the Bahamas followed with elite travellers generating some US$64 million for the economy with St Thomas following at US$56 million. Bermuda, North Eleuthera, Anguilla and Cayman followed, the Sun reported.

“When one considers the above numbers represent only 33 to 50 per cent of total private aviation activity to the region and only the 10 busiest airports, it shows the huge opportunity for destinations and resorts to increase their share of super rich winter travel spending,” Gollan said.

A resort on the Turks and Caicos Islands. A total of 1,374 passengers arrived at Providenciales International Airport between November 2013 and April 2014 bringing nearly US$95 million into the island.