An aircraft descends just a few feet above the sand at Maho Beach as the roar of its engines shakes the shoreline and the sea briefly pulls back. Minutes later, it takes only a short drive to reach Simpson Bay, sit beside the lagoon and, almost without noticing, cross from the Dutch side of the island to the French side without passing through any border control. That dual identity between Saint Martin and Sint Maarten has always been one of the island’s greatest attractions. And now, getting there has become much easier.

Southwest Airlines has officially launched its new daily nonstop route between Orlando and Princess Juliana International Airport, marking the airline’s first-ever service to the island and its first new international destination since 2021.

The significance of this connection extends far beyond Florida. Orlando is one of Southwest’s main hubs, meaning travelers from more than 45 U.S. cities can now reach Saint Martin/St. Maarten with just one stop while remaining within the same airline network. Cities across the Midwest and the South that previously required multiple flights or a change of carriers will now have a much simpler path to the Caribbean island.

Last night, a special event was held in Florida to celebrate the new air service and tourism milestone. The event brought together representatives from Discover Saint Martin, the island’s French-side tourism authority; its Dutch-side counterpart, St. Maarten Tourism Bureau; airport officials; and executives from Southwest Airlines.

According to Discover Saint Martin, the new route “represents much more than greater accessibility.” The organization said the service strengthens the island’s ties with a key North American market, supports the growth of the tourism economy and reinforces the position of Saint Martin/St. Maarten as one of the Caribbean’s leading destinations.

Discover Saint Martin also thanked Princess Juliana International Airport, its Dutch-side partners and all the stakeholders involved in making the new route possible.

“This connection opens the door to new opportunities, greater visibility and continued growth for our island throughout the year,” the French-side tourism agency said in its statement.

The new Orlando service is only the beginning. Southwest is also set to launch a second route between Saint Martin/St. Maarten and Baltimore/Washington on April 11, further expanding access from the Northeastern United States, one of the island’s most important source markets.

Southwest’s arrival also strengthens the role of SXM as a regional hub for other islands in the northeastern Caribbean. From there, many travelers continue on to Anguilla, Saint Barthélemy and Saba, making Saint Martin/St. Maarten an increasingly important gateway for the region.