The island of Sint Maarten is known for its beautiful beaches and one of the most unique airport runways in the world, and it will soon welcome one more thing: Southwest Airlines.
The carrier will launch flights between both Orlando and Baltimore to the island’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) next year, according to Southwest. This marks the airline’s first new international destination since 2021.
Southwest will launch daily flights from Orlando International Airport (MCO) on April 7, 2026, followed by weekend service from Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) a few days later.
“These nonstop routes allow roundtrip connections with more than 45 airports across the U.S.,” Southwest wrote in a statement, calling the destination “one island” with “two heartbeats.”
The Caribbean island is split into two sides: the Dutch Sint Maarten and the French Saint-Martin. The main airport is on the Dutch side and known for its incredible plane spotting with the chance to see low-flying aircraft right from the nearby beach and snap memorable photos from the ocean or the sand with an up-close plane in the background. Travelers to the island can also sample classic Caribbean eats, hang out at one of the many popular beaches, head out on a scuba diving expedition, enjoy sailing excursions, and more.
Travelers looking to get a jump start on their spring break or winter getaways can start planning now since Southwest also opened its flight schedule through June 3, 2026.
Beyond Sint Maarten, Southwest is also making it easier for travelers to head to Asia thanks to a new partnership with Taiwanese carrier EVA Air. This marks Southwest’s third airline partnership, joining similar agreements the carrier has with Icelandair and China Airlines.
The expansion comes as Southwest undergoes a host of changes. In May, the airline ended its long-standing (and often tested) policy of offering free checked bags. And in January 2026, the carrier will debut its new assigned seating policy, putting an end to its open seating format. The carrier is also overhauling its fare classes, introducing new options of “Basic,” “Choice,” “Choice Preferred,” and “Choice Extra.”
And this week, Southwest also changed its plus-size seating policy, advising customers who need more room to purchase their extra seat during booking. Previously, Southwest allowed plus-sized passengers to either request a free additional seat at the airport or pay for the extra seat and receive a refund after the flight. The new policy will go into effect on Jan. 27, 2026.
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