Southwest to Add a New Path to the Caribbean

It simply bought simpler to get a dose of vitamin sea. 

Southwest Airways is launching new service to St. Thomas within the U.S. Virgin Islands subsequent 12 months, including the Caribbean vacation spot to its roster. The brand new flights to St. Thomas’ Cyril E. King Worldwide Airport (STT) are anticipated to kick off in early 2026 and can mark the provider’s ninth island vacation spot within the Atlantic Basin, in accordance with the airline.

Nevertheless, the brand new flights are topic to authorities approvals and it was not instantly clear the place Southwest would function the flights from.

“We need to make Southwest Airways the simple and apparent alternative each time, and that is one other significant step in our ongoing transformation,” Southwest CEO Bob Jordan mentioned in a press release, including the airline was “listening intently to what our Prospects need.”

Along with St. Thomas, the airline teased it deliberate so as to add two extra new locations, which it mentioned could be introduced this summer season. The provider didn’t provide any insights about the place these locations could be.

For vacationers who do not need to wait till 2026, they’ll e book flights via a number of different airways presently serving STT, together with American Airways, Cape Air, Delta Air Strains, and United Airways. 

The St. Thomas airport can be a hub for inter-island and regional journey. Passengers can e book flights to San Juan, St. Croix, and different locations from there. 

The U.S. Virgin Islands proceed to be a preferred vacation spot amongst air vacationers and cruise passengers. Greater than 930,000 individuals traveled to the area by air in 2024, in accordance with the U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Tourism, representing a 16.5 p.c improve in comparison with 2023 and a brand new report excessive. The area can be a preferred cease with cruisers, with Disney Cruise Line, Movie star Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Virgin Voyages all docking there. Greater than 1.7 million passengers disembarked and explored the area, in accordance with the tourism division. 

“As a vacation spot, we proceed to discover, elevate, and enhance, which additional helps the continuing objective to construct upon our dedication to be a premier Caribbean vacation spot,” Joseph Boschulte, the commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Tourism, mentioned in a press release.