Southwest Airlines announced today that it will begin service to Cyril E. King International Airport (STT) on the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands beginning in 2026. This marks the first expansion of the Dallas based carrier’s route map in over four years.
Southwest is Adding Flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands
While the launch of the new service still needs governmental approvals, it is expected that the carrier will launch flights in early 2026. Bob Jordan, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors at Southwest Airlines, said this about the new destination:
“We are listening closely to what our Customers want—from new products and loyalty benefits to new destinations. We want to make Southwest Airlines the easy and obvious choice every time, and this is another meaningful step in our ongoing transformation.”
St. Thomas is the first of three new destinations that the carrier plans to launch in 2026. The airline is planning to announce two more destinations later this summer. Once service begins, St. Thomas will be the ninth island destination served by the airline in the Atlantic Basin, joining Aruba, The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Commissioner Joseph Boschulte of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, said this about the launch of the new flights:
“We are excited at the announcement of new airlift into St. Thomas with Southwest Airlines. 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.”
This expansion comes as Southwest is putting the finishing touches on a massive transformation plan that saw it add assigned seating, remove free checked bags, overhaul its Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program, and add extra legroom seating to its aircraft.
Specific routes and frequencies have not been revealed as part of the announcement with the carrier stating that it plans to make flights available for purchase “soon”.
Summary
Southwest Airlines has announced the first expansion of its route map in more than four years. The Dallas based low-cost carrier (LCC) will add flights to Cyril E. King International Airport (STT) on the island of St. Thomas in early 2026. The carrier plans to announce two more destinations later this summer.
(H/T to Blake)