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Southwest to launch 1st new destination since 2021, with nonstop US Virgin Islands flights

Sean Cudahy
Sean Cudahy
Senior Aviation Reporter
Sean Cudahy is an aviation reporter covering news about airlines, frequent flyer programs and consumer travel issues.
July 14, 2025
•
4 min read
Southwest Boeing 737 Nashville BNA
Southwest to launch 1st new destination since 2021, with nonstop US Virgin Islands flights
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Southwest Airlines is expanding in the Caribbean, with plans to serve its first new destination in nearly half a decade.

The Dallas-based carrier on Monday announced it will launch nonstop service to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The new flights will begin in early 2026.

When to go: These are the best times to buy an international flight

For Southwest, gaining access to the U.S. Virgin Islands is an especially noteworthy destination. Beyond a new island and territory, it's the airline's first new destination in several years.

virgin islands
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI with Bluebeard's Castle

The last new pin on the carrier's proverbial map came in late 2021, when it added Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) in upstate New York during the COVID-19 pandemic, when domestic travel led the way.

Recent years have seen Southwest make cutbacks to its route map, including exiting Syracuse itself.

That's set to change.

3 new Southwest cities coming soon

Southwest said Monday that it plans to announce a total of three all-new cities — St. Thomas, plus two more that the carrier has not yet revealed.

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While the remaining two will no doubt be the source of much speculation, Southwest also did not reveal which cities it intends to use to serve St. Thomas' Cyrus E. King International Airport (STT).

The carrier told TPG it doesn't want to tip its hand to competitors before the route goes on sale — which is expected soon.

Southwest jet
A Southwest Airlines aircraft taxis at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

For what it's worth, Southwest's most significant East Coast growth over the past two years has focused on Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Nashville International Airport (BNA). We'll know soon enough whether it's one of those airports, or a different Southwest base, that gets this new STT nonstop flight.

Southwest's new St. Thomas flights

Located in the Caribbean, St. Thomas (and the U.S Virgin Islands as a whole) makes for a popular travel destination: all of the warm weather and beaches you'd expect in a tropical destination, but without the need to even bring a passport — that is, unless you plan to take a boat trip to the nearby British Virgin Islands, as I did on a 2017 trip.

Multiple new, overhauled and rebranded points properties have opened in recent years, including a marquee Marriott Bonvoy property in the Westin Beach Resort and Spa at Frenchman's Reef.

Westin Frenchman's Reef, St. Thomas. ELLIE NAN STORCK/THE POINTS GUY

"We want to make Southwest Airlines the easy and obvious choice every time, and this is another meaningful step in our ongoing transformation," Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said in a statement Monday.

Several major U.S. airlines currently fly to and from St. Thomas. American Airlines has by far the biggest presence, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium — followed by Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines.

Related reading:

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.