Southwest adds St. Maarten, partners with EVA Air
Southwest extended its bookable schedule through June 3, 2026, confirmed St. Maarten as a new international destination, and unveiled an interline partnership with EVA Air. Daily Orlando to St. Maarten flights begin April 7, 2026, with peak weekend service from Baltimore starting April 9. The EVA tie-up enables single-itinerary bookings and through-checked baggage between Southwest's U.S. network and EVA's transpacific flights via Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago O'Hare. Together, the moves broaden Caribbean access and create smoother Asia connections without adding Southwest long-haul flying.
Key Points
- Why it matters: New Caribbean service and an EVA link expand options without complex self-transfers.
- Travel impact: Daily Orlando-SXM, plus weekend Baltimore-SXM, start in April 2026.
- What's next: Interline bookings are live through EVA channels, with more partner growth likely.
- Schedule now extends through June 3, 2026.
- EVA gateways are LAX, SFO, SEA, and ORD.
Snapshot
Southwest will introduce service to Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) in April 2026, adding daily Orlando International Airport (MCO) flights on April 7, and peak Saturday and Sunday service from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) on April 9. The carrier also extended its schedule to June 3, 2026. Separately, an interline agreement with EVA Air lets travelers combine Southwest domestic legs with EVA's transpacific network on a single reservation, with baggage checked to the final destination, via Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), and O'Hare International Airport (ORD). For Southwest regulars, this creates a straightforward pathway to Asia while preserving Rapid Rewards earning on Southwest segments and simplifying connections compared with separate tickets.
Background
Southwest has been rebuilding and refocusing its international footprint while testing partnerships to extend reach. Earlier this summer the airline added another interline, signaling a broader strategy to connect customers to long-haul partners without flying widebodies itself. The St. Maarten announcement follows Southwest's plan to enter St. Thomas, reflecting continued Caribbean demand and the brand's strength in Florida and mid-Atlantic gateways. EVA Air, a Skytrax five-star carrier with a deep North America schedule, supplies the transpacific legs from West Coast and Midwest hubs, while Southwest fills in domestic feed. Interline benefits typically include one-stop booking, coordinated minimum connection times, and through-checked bags. Unlike a full codeshare, tickets are sold primarily by the long-haul carrier, but the traveler experience is notably simpler than piecing together separate PNRs. For leisure customers, the combination reduces risk and hassle when traveling to and from Asia.
Latest Developments
St. Maarten service details for 2026
Southwest's St. Maarten plan centers on two U.S. gateways and spring timing. From April 7, 2026, the airline will fly roundtrip daily between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). Two days later, beginning April 9, 2026, Southwest adds peak-schedule service on Saturdays and Sundays between Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and SXM. The carrier notes more than 45 U.S. cities will be able to make roundtrip connections to SXM over these flights, improving access for travelers across the East and Midwest. As with all new international routes, operations are subject to requisite approvals. For broader context on Southwest's recent Caribbean moves, see our coverage of St. Thomas service, Southwest to Launch St. Thomas Flights in February 2026.
How the EVA Air interline works for Asia trips
Southwest and EVA Air launched an interline arrangement that is now on sale through EVA booking channels and major third-party sites. The agreement supports single-itinerary booking, coordinated connections, and through-checked baggage between Southwest's domestic network and EVA's transpacific flights. Initial U.S. gateway airports are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), and O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Practically, a traveler can fly Southwest from, for example, Phoenix to Los Angeles, then connect to EVA to Taipei, and continue onward in Asia under one reservation. This is Southwest's third airline partner announced in 2025, reinforcing a partnership model that expands reach while the airline evaluates future long-haul ambitions. For additional context on Southwest's partner strategy, see Southwest international expansion moves forward.
Analysis
Southwest is threading a careful needle, growing relevance for international travel without taking on the cost and complexity of long-haul operations. The St. Maarten announcement fits its playbook, leaning on strong Florida and Baltimore demand, a high-leisure Caribbean market, and schedule connectivity to dozens of spoke cities. Spring launch dates also avoid hurricane-season risk at the outset, then roll into summer peak once the operation is settled. For SXM specifically, competition and fare levels will hinge on how aggressively rivals deploy capacity from the Northeast and Florida in summer 2026, but the recognizable Southwest product and bag policy will resonate with repeat customers.
On the Asia front, the EVA Air interline is the most impactful development for Southwest travelers. It replaces self-connect friction with aligned minimum connection times, bag-through, and single-PNR protections that matter when delays hit. Gateways at LAX, SFO, SEA, and ORD cover the core transpacific flows, while EVA's broad Taipei hub unlocks regional access. Because this is an interline rather than a full codeshare, sales and servicing remain primarily with EVA channels, and elite benefits do not extend across carriers. Even so, this materially improves Southwest's value proposition for U.S. flyers who prefer to stay on Southwest domestically when heading to Asia. Expect more iterative partner steps as the airline tests demand and operational fit.
Final Thoughts
Taken together, the SXM launch and EVA partnership signal a pragmatic international strategy. Southwest adds a crowd-pleasing Caribbean island with logical feed from Orlando and Baltimore, then layers on an interline that simplifies Asia trips through four proven gateways. For travelers, the near-term play is simple, book the Caribbean for April 2026 and consider EVA for Asia if you want to keep your U.S. legs on Southwest. If later partner expansions arrive, today's framework will make them easier to adopt. For now, the headline is clear, Southwest St. Maarten flights with an EVA link to Asia.