Contour Airlines began twice-weekly nonstop flights between St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands and St. Maarten on October 5, 2026. The route was announced in July by the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and links Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas with Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten. For travellers who like to combine two Caribbean islands in one trip, a direct link of under an hour is a real change, because the alternative has usually involved a connection through a larger hub.
The schedule
According to the tourism department’s release, the flights operate on Mondays and Fridays. The published times are:
- Mondays: St. Thomas to St. Maarten departs 11:35 a.m. and arrives 12:30 p.m. The return leaves St. Maarten at 1:15 p.m. and arrives in St. Thomas at 2:10 p.m.
- Fridays: St. Thomas to St. Maarten departs 12:35 p.m. and arrives 1:35 p.m. The return leaves St. Maarten at 2:30 p.m. and arrives in St. Thomas at 3:25 p.m.
Times are local and can change, so check Contour’s website before you plan around them. The release describes the aircraft as a 30 seat regional jet with complimentary snacks and inflight service. Some trade coverage quotes fares from about US$150 round trip, but the official release does not list a fare, so treat that figure as indicative and confirm it at booking.
Why it matters to island hoppers
St. Thomas and St. Maarten are both popular bases, but they sit in different political and travel systems. The route gives visitors who are flying into one island a simpler way to see the other without returning to the US mainland or booking two separate tickets through a connecting city. It also helps residents and the local tourism industry, and the chief executive of Princess Juliana International Airport said every new route strengthens the connectivity that is vital to island communities.
Because the flight operates only on Mondays and Fridays, it suits a specific style of trip. A Monday departure and a Friday return gives a four night split stay. A Friday departure and a Monday return gives a long weekend on the other island. Anything else requires a different routing or a rest day.
What to check before you book
An inter-island hop is an international trip. St. Thomas is a US territory, but St. Maarten is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Entry rules, passport requirements and any arrival forms depend on your citizenship, so check the official government sources for both islands before you fly. We cannot list every rule here, and we will not guess at one. Our guide to what to do if you lose your passport while on a resort trip is worth a read if you have not travelled with your documents before.
Also consider the baggage rules. Small regional jets often have tighter cabin space and different checked bag allowances than the larger aircraft you may have used earlier in your trip. Check Contour’s baggage page and keep a change of clothes in your carry-on, particularly if you are connecting from a long-haul flight.
Plan for disruption
With only two flights a week, a cancellation can strand you for days. If you have a resort booking at the other end, a missed connection can also mean a lost night. Leave a buffer day between this flight and any departure from the island chain, and read our guide on what to do when your flight is delayed or cancelled on a resort trip for rebooking steps and the paperwork to keep. Travel insurance can matter here too, and what travel insurance actually covers on an all-inclusive resort trip explains where cover usually starts and stops.
Hurricane season also matters in this part of the Caribbean, which lies in the path of Atlantic storms. Our piece on traveling during hurricane season covers how to protect a booking.
Other Caribbean connections
The route adds to a steady stream of new regional connections this autumn. We have reported on Aeromexico’s planned flights to Jamaica and the Bahamas and United’s Newark to St. Croix service. If you are weighing islands for a trip, our page on The Bahamas and the guide on Aruba against the Bahamas for an all-inclusive show how we compare destinations.
Our take
This is a small route with a real use. It will not change how most visitors reach the Caribbean, but it makes two-island itineraries easier for people who already plan to visit the Virgin Islands or St. Maarten. The confirmed facts are the start date, the twice-weekly schedule and the aircraft type. Fares and any schedule changes should be checked on the airline’s site.
Sources: US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism press release, July 22, 2026, and trade coverage from TravelPulse and Caribbean Journal.