ORLANDO, FL – Southwest Airlines will soon connect Central Florida travelers with St. Martin, a Caribbean island, and add another direct international option from Orlando International Airport.
Starting April 7, 2026, Dallas-based Carrier (NYSE: LUV) will launch non-stop service between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), the first new international destination in the southwest since 2021. Southwest is the only carrier to directly serve between Orlando and St. Martin, offering Florida travelers a new link to one of the Caribbean’s most popular holiday spots.
Known for its cultural influences in the Splits of the Netherlands and France, St. Martin attracts visitors from all over the world on the world-famous Maho Beach, where planes pass just above the sunbathers before landing at SXM.
The growing Orlando hub of Southwest
Southwest is already the largest airline in Orlando International Airport, with 12.47 million passengers in 2024. Last year, the airport handled 57.21 million passengers, not only is Florida’s busiest, but the busiest in the US.
As Orlando continues to see an increase in international tourism, the new St. Marchen route comes. Visit Orlando reported 6.5 million international visitors in 2024, up 5.9% from the previous year. Canada was the best market, followed by the UK, Brazil, Mexico and Colombia.
More domestic and Caribbean services
Southwest expansion is not limited to St. Martin. The airlines are as follows:
Starting February 5th, daily services will be added between Orlando and St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. Flights to Knoxville, Tennessee will begin on March 5th to expand domestic options for travelers in the Orlando area.
These additions are part of a broader push to expand international services by Orlando International Airport. Several airlines have already announced new routes including Ratum Airlines to Lima (October 26th) in Peru, Viva Aerobus to Mexico City’s latest airport (November) and Porter Airlines to Hamilton, Ontario (December 12th).
Tourism growth drives flight demand
Demand for new international routes is partly fueled by the booming tourism industry in Central Florida. Universal’s spectacular Universe theme park, which opened in May, is already boosting visitors’ traffic. In June, Orange County collected $33.7 million in tourism development tax revenue, up 10.3% year-on-year, marking its highest total in June.
Airport leaders and airlines hope the trends will continue as Orlando strengthens its position as America’s best tourist destination and gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America.
