The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) continues to maintain a standout presence at Routes World, held in Hong Kong. Led by Commissioner Nominee Jennifer Matarangas-King of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, the USVI delegation displayed strategic leadership in advancing air access and fostering crucial partnerships within the aviation industry.
Throughout the event, the USVI delegation engaged in strategy discussions with key industry stakeholders and airline representatives including Delta Airlines, JetBlue, Porter Airlines, and Volaris. Additional meetings included Scandinavian Airlines and the Denver International Airport Authority, both of which centered on expanding airlift and connectivity opportunities for St. Croix. Conversations overall focused on growth strategies aimed at opening new gateways in high-demand markets, enhancing existing routes, and addressing seasonality shifts to maximize the Territory’s tourism potential.
Commissioner Nominee Matarangas-King expressed excitement about the week, emphasizing the positive feedback received from airline partners. “The Department of Tourism’s participation at Routes World 2025 showcased not only the territory’s strategic prowess, but also its inherent growth potential,” she remarked, highlighting the territory’s ability to adapt to evolving travel trends and its commitment to sustainable tourism development. “Airline and industry partners from across the globe are seeing the U.S. Virgin Islands as a preeminent destination, drawn by its rich cultural heritage, pristine natural beauty, and robust infrastructure that supports both leisure and business travel.”
Former Commissioner Joseph Boschulte, who was on a keynote panel alongside representatives from the Orlando Airport and Barcelona Tourism, emphasized the USVI’s expanding air access and record-breaking arrivals numbers which have led to a flattening of the seasonality trend that has long plagued the region. “The growth in arrivals into both St. Croix and St. Thomas continues to trend upward with the retention of more year-round service. Sustained support from our airline partners combined with continued strategic marketing efforts emphasize the promising outlook for tourism in the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming Winter 2025/26 season (November–February), St. Croix is on track for significant growth, with a 16% increase in seats from the continental U.S. (+10,800). American Airlines is driving this with a 29% increase (+11,900 seats), joined by JetBlue with 52% growth (+6,600 seats). Notably, American will debut a new Saturday service from Chicago to St. Croix beginning December 6, 2025, alongside upgraded daily service to St. Thomas launching December 18.
St. Thomas is also projected to see record gains, with a 9% year-over-year increase in overall capacity (+31,500 seats), including a 15% surge from the continental U.S. and a 55% boost in international service. Delta is leading growth into the market with a 33% increase (+19,700 seats), followed by American (+15,800 seats, +15%) and United (+7,300 seats, +14%). New service will launch with Southwest Airlines to Baltimore and Orlando, Delta to Boston, Contour to Dominica, and Cape Air to St. Barth, further diversifying route options.
These additions will deliver the Territory’s strongest winter airlift to date, opening gateways from Boston, Chicago, Miami, Charlotte, and Washington D.C. As the 2025/26 winter season approaches, the Department of Tourism remains committed to sustaining this momentum and strengthening airline partnerships that position the U.S. Virgin Islands among the fastest-growing Caribbean destinations for air service.
For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands and its offerings, please visit: https://www.visitusvi.
About the U.S. Virgin Islands
About 40 miles east of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands comprise a United States territory located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. The three islands are St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas, where the capital of Charlotte Amalie is located. Perfect for leisure or business travel, the U.S. Virgin Islands features breathtaking, world-renowned beaches, an international marine industry, European architecture, and a burgeoning restaurant industry. No passports are required from U.S. citizens traveling from the U.S. mainland or Puerto Rico. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are equivalent to entering the United States from any international country. Upon departure, a passport is required for non-U.S. citizens. For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to www.VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Instagram (@visitusvi) and Twitter (@usvitourism), and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI).