Southwest Airlines is expanding its route network, announcing new service to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands beginning in early 2026.
Cyril E. King International Airport (STT) marks the rapidly transforming low-cost carrier's ninth Caribbean island destination, joining Aruba, the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Turks and Caicos.
St. Thomas is one of three new destinations for 2026 that Southwest plans to unveil this summer.
"We are listening closely to what our customers want¡ªfrom new products and loyalty benefits to new destinations," Southwest President and CEO Bob Jordan said in a statement. "We want to make Southwest Airlines the easy and obvious choice every time, and this is another meaningful step in our ongoing transformation."
In his own statement, Commissioner Joseph Boschulte of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism said: "As a destination, this expands our accessibility and connectivity to travelers, allowing for seamless and expanded travel opportunities to experience the natural beauty, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality that define the U.S. Virgin Islands."
"Today marks an exciting milestone for the U.S. Virgin Islands and our growing tourism industry," added Governor Albert Bryan Jr. "We are proud to welcome this new partnership with Southwest Airlines and look forward to greeting new travelers to our beautiful island home."
The new route announcement comes on the heels of significant changes at Southwest, which has done away with its iconic "bags fly free" and open seating policies and launched new fare products to be more competitive.
The carrier is also considering expanding service to Europe and developing airport lounges, among other efforts.
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