It’s not really fuel prices it’s demand that’s driving the fares up. The airlines can’t staff for what they want to fly. They have the equipment they just don’t have the people. STT is also a somewhat unique market. The 757 is the only aircraft with the performance needed to get out of there and go nonstop to most US destinations while carrying almost 200 people. It’s rapidly being retired and the replacement options are the A319 or 737-700. That’s a drop of 60 seats a flight and with the gate and terminal situation it’s hard to add more flights. American has had a big drop in overall seats available.
Delta could go nonstop from ATL with the A220-100 from Tortola to Atlanta but has shown little interest.I am surprised the BVI government has not offered to subsidize the flights for 2 or 3 years.