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On Wednesday October 1, the airline announced the opening of a route between Saint-Thomas (US Virgin Islands) and Saint-Barthélemy. The first flights are scheduled for October 20. Two daily flights are already scheduled.
"This is an important moment for Cape Air," said Aaron Blinka, the company's Vice President of Planning, in the columns of the St. Thomas Source. "Each new route reflects our commitment to thoughtful, strategic growth, connecting more communities to smarter, more convenient travel options," he added. Whether it's simplifying access to major hubs like Boston, offering new routes to the islands or strengthening our presence in the Caribbean, Cape Air is building the future of regional air travel in this way. "
Saint-Barthélemy airport director Fabrice Danet confirms the information to JSB. The agreements with the Civil Aviation Authority are currently being finalized," he explains. It starts on October 20 with two daily flights, using a BN2 aircraft type. There will be a morning arrival around 9:35 a.m. and a departure at 10 a.m. for the first rotation. Then an arrival in the afternoon around 4:05 p.m. and a departure 25 minutes later. "
A route that "simplifies travel
Cape Air's management insists that the route between Saint-Thomas and Saint-Barthélemy "offers a direct service between two popular destinations, providing travelers with an alternative to private charters or ferry transfers".
Interviewed by the Saint-Thomas Source, Alexandra Questel, President of the Comité du Tourisme de Saint-Barth, comments: "The opening of this new route between Saint-Thomas and Saint-Barth represents a significant step forward for regional connectivity. This new link simplifies travel, supports local tourism and brings our Caribbean communities even closer together. "Yes, but you'll have to be prepared to put your hand in the wallet.
Indeed, on the airline's website, the price of a return ticket between Saint-Barth and Saint-Thomas varies between 748 and 780 euros. This is for a 1h05 flight out and 1h20 return. The opening of this new route comes just a few weeks after the announcement of a twinning project between Saint-Thomas and Saint-Barthélemy. The project was approved by the Territorial Council at its meeting on September 18.
Cape Air, a major airline
Based in Massachusetts (USA), Cape Air operates scheduled flights to the Northeast and Midwest of the United States, Micronesia and the Caribbean. Mainly the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Puerto Rico and Nevis. St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts, Anguilla and St. Barth will soon be among the destinations served. Cape Air was founded in 1989, the year of its first flight between Boston and Princetown. From 1993 to 2013, it operated flights between South Florida and the Keys, and in 1998, a route to the Caribbean was launched. From 2004 to 2018, it served Micronesia with two ATR-42s, operating routes between Guam, Rota and Saipan. In 2009, Cape Air began operating from the Midwest region, with current hubs in St. Louis, Chicago and Nashville. In December 2013, it added the Montana region to its network, serving five rural communities in northeastern Montana with direct flights from its Billings hub.
A busy year at Juliana
Michiel Parent, Commercial Director of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), spoke last Thursday during a presentation at the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) meeting. A speech relayed by the Daily Herald on October 3. Michiel Parent reported that 663,000 passengers passed through Juliana in the first eight months of 2025, compared with 600,000 over the same period in 2024. This figure also surpassed the island's previous record, 2016, when 645,000 passengers were recorded. During the presentation, the Daily Herald points out, the audience was shown a slide showing that Juliana could reach 1.8 million passenger movements in the short term. By the end of the year, 30 airlines will serve 43 markets, offering a total of 1.4 million seats, said Michiel Parent. These include new airlines such as Z Air, Contour Airlines, Air Caraïbes and Southwest Airlines, scheduled to launch in April 2026. New destinations are also being added, including Montserrat, Paris-Orly and Baltimore, extending Saint-Martin's reach to new markets.
