Southwest reveals 2 new routes to St. Thomas, bringing back 28 more routes in winter
Imagine: It’s the middle of winter, you’ve just boarded a two- or three-hour flight to the Caribbean Sea – you don’t even need a passport.
This will soon become a reality for two American cities that will receive brand new Southwest flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Starting in February, the Southwest will continue to fly to its busiest East Coast base St. Thomas Kui King Airport (STT): Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Orlando International Airport (MCO).
Southwest Airlines’ 2 new St. Thomas flights
Southwest Airlines’ new MCO-STT service will be launched for the first time on February 5. The new flight will make St. Thomas the first new destination for Dallas Airlines in nearly five years. You have to go back to its 2021 Syracuse service in New York (later cancelled) to find the last time the Southwest launched a new city.
With all the respect that deserves Syracuse, St. Thomas is a more attractive mid-winter destination – with a range of resorts you can book with points.
Marriott Hotel calls new life into a beloved Caribbean resort: Westin Beach Resort & Spa on French Reef
Southwest Airlines flights between Orlando and St. Thomas will run every day throughout the year.
Meanwhile, flights from BWI to the island will be launched on February 7.
St. Thomas is not the end of the Southwest expansion. Earlier this month, TPG reported that the airline plans to announce its two additional brand new cities after atypical cuts last year. However, there is no news about the announcements of the other two cities or when they will be announced.
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Southwest allocated seats are now for sale
The announcement of BWI and MCO flying to STT was the same day that the designated seats were first sold on Tuesday. These seating tasks, including its brand new extra leg seats, will be available for bookings starting January 27, 2026, including these new Caribbean routes.
Remember that unless you have a quick reward elite identity or carry one of their common brand credit cards, Southwest’s base fare won’t offer a free seat option.
Read more: Now a quarter of the Southwest plane has a super seat – here’s how to grab one
Southwest’s new selection fare comes with standard seating options. Selecting the preferred allows you to access the normal seat close to the front of the plane, while choosing an extra seat allows you to access the extra leg seat (not to mention two free shipping bags).
Remember that all Southwest credit cards now have some form of seating choice (even basic fares), as well as a free hosting bag for hosts, up to eight companions to fly on the same reservation.
Read more: Southwest unveiled large credit card refresh: 50% off hiking, but new seating and boarding allowance
Beaches, warm weather and ski destinations highlighted back to winter routes
In addition to announcing two new St. Thomas routes, Southwest Airlines has also opened its schedule for bookings until March 4, 2026, and confirmed returns on (expected) 24 seasonal routes starting from January 27.
These include:
- Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Cancun International Airport (CUN)
- To Denver International Airport (DEN)
- To Fort Myers Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
- Fort Lauderdale – Golywood International Airport (FLL) to Rhode Island TF Green International Airport (PVD)
- Albany International Airport (ALB) to RSW
- ALB to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to Louis Muniz Marion International Airport (SJU)
- Bradley International Airport (BDL) to RSW in Hartford
- Nashville International Airport (BNA) to Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN) in Colorado
- BNA to Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to MCO
- Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
- BWI to Turkish and CAICOS Providenciales International Airport (PLS)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL) to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
- Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport (DTW) to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) to FLL
- William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) in Houston to Sanster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Go to SRQ
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Tampa International Airport (TPA) in New York
- Portland International Jet Movement (PWM) in Maine to MCO
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to MCO
- Tulsa International Airport (TUL) to MCO
- Midway Airport (MDW) to PSP in Chicago
- Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) to Miami International Airport (MIA)
- PVD to PBI
- Frederick Douglas Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) to RSW
- Louisville Mohammed Ali International Airport (SDF) to RSW
Many of these routes will be served less daily every day when the cold winter dates are warmer, beach (and skiing) destinations.
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