Southwest Airlines to begin St. Thomas flights starting early 2026
Southwest Airlines will expand its Caribbean route network in early 2026 with new service to Cyril E. King International Airport (STT) in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The addition marks the first new destination announcement by the carrier since 2021 and reflects renewed growth following a network expansion pause.
St. Thomas becomes the ninth island destination for Southwest in the Atlantic Basin, joining Puerto Rico, Aruba, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Turks and Caicos. The company also operates international service to Belize, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
“We are listening closely to what our customers want — from new products and loyalty benefits to new destinations,” said Bob Jordan, CEO of Southwest Airlines. “We want to make Southwest Airlines the easy and obvious choice every time, and this is another meaningful step in our ongoing transformation.”
The St. Thomas route is the first of three new destinations Southwest plans to reveal this summer. Specific details, including launch date and routes, will be released soon, with tickets available for purchase soon.
The carrier is also planning broader updates in 2026, including new fare bundles, a reconfigured aircraft fleet with extra legroom, and the launch of assigned and premium seating.
This announcement marks a return to growth for the Dallas-based airline as it deepens its Caribbean footprint and seeks to enhance customer experience across its network.
