Jay-Z & Beyoncé’s Private Jet Touches Down at SXM – Thanksgiving in St. Barths Awaits

~ Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s Bombardier Global 7500 (tail number N44440) touches down on Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)’s runway 10 in St. Maarten on November 24, 2025. The sleek white jet’s fuselage gleams under the Caribbean sun as it arrives, carrying the Carters and their family en route to nearby St. Barths. ~

Jay-Z and Beyoncé appear to be adding their star power to St. Barths’ Thanksgiving scene this year. The music power couple’s private jet was spotted landing in St. Maarten on Monday, an essential stop on the way to neighboring Saint Barthélemy (St. Barths). By all indications, the Carters wasted no time after touchdown – they reportedly transferred straight to a waiting helicopter for the short hop to St. Barths, eager to catch up with the island’s pre-Thanksgiving festivities that had been underway since the weekend.

Jet-Setting via St. Maarten – The Gateway to St. Barths

Why park the jet in St. Maarten? The answer lies in St. Barths’ notoriously petite airport. Gustaf III Airport (SBH) in St. Barths has a runway of only about 2,100–2,170 feet – far too short for large jets like the Carters’ Global 7500. In fact, pilots need special certification to land even small planes there, thanks to a steep hill on one end and a beach on the other. As a result, virtually all VIP travelers bound for St. Barths arrive first at a larger nearby airport – often Princess Juliana Airport (SXM) or another regional hub – and then hop over to St. Barths on a smaller aircraft or helicopter. Jay-Z and Beyoncé followed this well-trodden path. Within minutes of landing at SXM, they boarded a chartered helicopter for the 15-minute flight over to St. Barths, ensuring they didn’t miss a beat of the celebrations already in full swing.

This speedy transfer marked a departure from the couple’s more leisurely arrivals in years past. It’s not uncommon for ultra-wealthy visitors like the Carters to arrive by luxury yacht in St. Barths, savoring a grand entrance by sea. However, due to their late arrival this year, the family prioritized speed over sailing. By swapping the waves for rotor blades, the Carters were able to touch down in St. Barths in record time, just as the island’s Thanksgiving week events were ramping up.

Bombardier Global 7500 – The Carters’ Flying Palace

The aircraft carrying the Carters to St. Maarten was none other than their Bombardier Global 7500, an ultra-long-range business jet famed for its size, range, and luxury. Bearing tail number N44440, this 2023-built jet is reportedly part of the Carters’ personal fleet, registered through a private holding (MAV 4 LLC of New York) rather than under their own names. The Global 7500 is a flagship of private aviation – it stands alone as the world’s largest and longest-range business jet, with a best-in-class range of about 7,700 nautical miles (over 8,800 miles). In practical terms, that means Jay-Z and Beyoncé can fly nonstop from Los Angeles to virtually any destination in Europe or even deep into Asia on a single tank of fuel. The jet’s performance is matched by its opulence: within its spacious cabin (up to 2,240+ cubic feet) are four distinct living zones, offering true home-like comfort in the sky. The Global 7500’s interior can include a private master suite with a bed and even a stand-up shower in the en-suite bath, a six-seat conference/dining area, a fully-equipped galley kitchen, and a cozy club lounge – literally a penthouse in the clouds. With twin GE Passport engines and a service ceiling up to 51,000 feet, this aircraft cruises faster and farther than most airliners, all while delivering whisper-quiet comfort for its passengers. It’s no wonder that Jay-Z and Beyoncé – a duo with a combined net worth in the billions – choose such an aircraft for their globe-trotting lifestyle. Their Global 7500 isn’t just transportation; it’s a flying palace and a symbol of the Carters’ rarefied status in the world of celebrity travel.

St. Barths: Thanksgiving Playground for the Elite

By jetting to St. Barths for Thanksgiving, Jay-Z and Beyoncé join a who’s-who of high-profile holidaymakers. In recent years St. Barths has cemented itself as a holiday playground for the world’s elite, especially as the U.S. Thanksgiving week rolls in. In contrast to autumn’s chill up north, St. Barths offers sun-soaked beaches, turquoise seas, and a chic island ambience – an irresistible combination for those seeking a festive yet relaxing escape. During Thanksgiving in particular, the island comes alive with exclusive soirées and beach parties, where A-listers and tastemakers mingle in a laid-back luxury setting. It’s essentially the unofficial kickoff of the winter social season in the Caribbean, but timed before the peak Christmas/New Year rush – meaning visitors get to enjoy the glam scene with slightly fewer crowds (and a touch less of the late-December price surge).

The presence of the Carters this week only underscores St. Barths’ magnetic appeal among VIPs. Pop culture royalty routinely flock here – Beyoncé and Jay-Z themselves, for example, have been known to make appearances during St. Barths’ festive seasons. They’re in good company. It’s not unusual to see tech moguls and Hollywood stars roaming the quaint streets of Gustavia or dropping anchor offshore. Mega-yachts owned by billionaires often line the harbor, and one might bump into a famous face at spots like Nikki Beach’s legendary Sunday brunch. Socialite Paris Hilton is another regular; in fact, her pink-painted private jet was spotted at SXM just one day ago, sparking buzz that she too is here for Thanksgiving. From music icons and fashion designers to business tycoons, St. Barths attracts an international jet-set crowd at this time of year. The island’s mix of French chic and Caribbean casual vibes – coupled with five-star villas, designer boutiques, and fine dining – makes it the place to be for those who can fly anywhere in the world. And as the sun shines on Thanksgiving 2025, it’s clear that tradition of holiday “escape and celebrate” in St. Barths is alive and well among the rich and famous.

STOL Aircraft – The VIP Shortcut to St. Barths

While the Carters opted for a helicopter this time, one can’t help but imagine an even more seamless option: a short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft whisking VIPs directly to St. Barths in full luxury. If local operators like AirStMaarten or ReyJets.com already had their new Tecnam P2012 STOL aircraft in service, it would have been a top-tier choice for celebrities like Jay-Z, Beyoncé – even Paris Hilton. The appeal? A STOL-capable plane can operate from ultra-short runways such as St. Barths’ 2,133-foot strip, yet offers the comfort and amenities of a private aircraft. The Tecnam P2012 Traveller, for instance, is a modern twin-engine 9-passenger plane that marries capability with comfort. Unlike the spartan island hopper planes of old, the P2012 boasts a surprisingly plush ride – air conditioning, generous legroom, and leather seating come standard. Each passenger gets a dedicated single seat (no tight benches) with their own window, armrest, USB charging port and personal air outlet. In other words, it’s an executive-class cabin experience scaled down to a size that can land on a tiny Caribbean airfield.

For elite travelers, a STOL aircraft like this presents the ultimate VIP shortcut. Instead of transferring to a helicopter or squeezing into a small prop plane with minimal frills, they could fly directly from St. Maarten (or even San Juan or Antigua) straight to St. Barths in a private mini-airliner, enjoying a quick 10-15 minute flight in climate-controlled comfort. The short-runway capability means no compromise is needed – you get speed, convenience, and luxury all at once. Had a P2012 been available on Monday, the Carters might well have skipped the chopper and chosen to jet-set all the way to St. Barths aboard a leather-clad STOL shuttle. As ReyJets and other operators look to bring such aircraft online, this final leg of the journey to St. Barths could soon match the opulence of the long-range jets that bring the jet-set to the Caribbean in the first place.

This Thanksgiving, Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s whirlwind arrival showcases the lengths to which VIP travelers go to be part of St. Barths’ holiday magic. And with ever more innovative connections on the horizon – from chic STOL planes to bespoke charters – reaching this exclusive island paradise is set to become even more seamless for those chasing the endless summer of the rich and famous. St. Barths remains, as ever, a beacon for the luxury jet-set, and 2025’s season is already off to a flying start (literally) with the Carters leading the way.