Southwest Airlines has announced it will add St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, to its growing network in early 2026, marking a major expansion for the carrier and a milestone for the territory’s tourism industry.
St. Thomas is the first of three new destinations Southwest plans to unveil for 2026, and it will become the ninth island in the Atlantic Basin served by the airline. Other destinations in the region include Aruba, The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Turks and Caicos. The airline also serves Belize, two destinations in Costa Rica, and three in Mexico.
“Today marks an exciting milestone for the U.S. Virgin Islands and our growing tourism industry,” said USVI 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 announcement comes as part of Southwest’s broader strategy to enhance its customer offerings. The airline is preparing to roll out assigned and premium seating in the third quarter of this year, and plans to introduce new fare bundles and a reconfigured fleet — featuring extra legroom seating — in the first quarter of 2026.
