Southwest is preparing to expand its route network with the addition of a new destination in early 2026 — the first since 2021. The airline announced Monday that this development marks the beginning of a broader strategy to introduce multiple new destinations, with additional announcements expected later this summer.
Starting in early 2026, the carrier will begin serving St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“We are listening closely to what our Customers want — from new products and loyalty benefits to new destinations,” said Southwest CEO Bob Jordan in a news release. “We want to make Southwest Airlines the easy and obvious choice every time, and this is another meaningful step in our ongoing transformation.”
The newly announced destination brings Southwest’s total number of island destinations in the Atlantic region to nine, joining locations such as Aruba, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. The airline also continues to serve destinations in Mexico, Belize, and Central America.
Beyond its route network, Southwest is planning to introduce premium seating options, fare bundles, and a reconfigured cabin layout starting in early 2026. Assigned seating will begin rolling out later this year, part of the airline’s ongoing efforts to modernize its offerings.
The new destination will be Southwest’s first network addition since the airline began serving Syracuse, New York, and Bellingham, Washington, in 2021. Southwest ended flights to both markets in 2024.
