Southwest adds St. Thomas, speculation on St. Maarten as possible next stop

DALLAS--Southwest Airlines has officially announced St. Thomas (STT) in the U.S. Virgin Islands as its newest Caribbean destination, with service expected to begin in early 2026. But industry watchers are already looking ahead, as strong speculation swirls that St. Maarten (SXM) may be next on the airline’s expansion list. Airline officials are not at any stage to announce possible future plans.

St. Thomas is the first of three new destinations Southwest plans to reveal for 2026. While specific routes and launch dates are still pending, initial service to STT is expected to include daily flights from Orlando (MCO), with possible weekend service from Baltimore/Washington (BWI) and Nashville (BNA).

The decision to finally add St. Thomas comes after earlier plans were shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, both St. Thomas and St. Maarten were under consideration for future service. With STT now confirmed, attention is turning to whether SXM will be next, particularly as Southwest continues strengthening its presence in the Caribbean market.

The addition of STT brings Southwest’s Atlantic Basin island destinations to nine, joining Aruba, the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Turks and Caicos. It also operates in Belize, Costa Rica, and several Mexican leisure markets including Cancun, Cozumel, and Puerto Vallarta.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism welcomed the announcement, noting the added convenience for U.S. travelers who can visit without a passport. Meanwhile, tourism and airport officials in St. Maarten are likely watching developments closely, as a Southwest connection could significantly boost airlift and visibility from key U.S. markets.

In addition to Caribbean growth, the airline is reportedly eyeing new seasonal ski destinations like Durango (DRO), Jackson Hole (JAC), and Sun Valley (SUN), likely operating through Denver (DEN).

For now, St. Thomas is Southwest’s headline destination, but if the speculation proves true, St. Maarten may not be far behind.

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