Travelers have a lot to look forward to in 2026, and that includes some exciting new flight routes.
Here are some of the new trip options making headlines to start the year.
Southwest Expands Flight Options to the Caribbean, Hawaii
Southwest Airlines, which recently launched assigned seating, is giving travelers more options when it comes to reaching the Caribbean in 2026, adding flights to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands early this year.
Meanwhile, the budget carrier will fly daily between St. Maarten (SXM) and Orlando (MCO) starting April 7, before connecting St. Maarten with Baltimore/Washington (BWI) via weekend service a couple of days later.
Southwest Airlines plane landing at Baltimore/Washington International Airport. (Photo Credit: Patrick Clarke)
In August, Southwest will debut new nonstop service between Las Vegas and Hilo, Hawaii.
Cayman Airways Connects Central Texas to the Islands
Starting May 24, 2026, Cayman Airways will debut a nonstop weekly Sunday flight from Austin, Texas (AUS) to Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman (GCM), Cayman Islands, eliminating the need for visitors from Central Texas to connect or worry about tedious layovers en route to the popular island destination.
The seasonal route will operate all summer long through August 16, 2026.
American Unlocks Sought-After Locales
Two American Airlines aircraft taxi on the runway. (Photo Credit: American Airlines)
American Airlines is making coveted destinations more accessible this summer, launching a bevy of new domestic routes, including Boston (BOS) to Nantucket (ACK) between June 18 and September 8, and summer flights from Phoenix to places like Anchorage, Alaska and Bozeman and Kalispell in Montana.
Additionally, the carrier is extending winter-only offerings from Chicago (ORD) to Santa Fe, New Mexico (SAF) and Key West, Florida (EYW) into the summer between May 21 and September 8, 2026.
Delta Opens Up Caribbean Hotspots
Delta Air Lines has big plans for 2026, including making the Caribbean more accessible for travelers in places like Atlanta and Boston.
New Saturday routes beginning this summer include flights between Atlanta and Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines and trips between Boston and Aruba and Nassau, Bahamas.
Delta Air Lines plane (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)
The summer will also see Delta connect Atlanta with Bonaire, Curacao, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Delta will also link Detroit with Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
United Adds More Flights From Chicago
United Airlines is poised for a massive summer of flights from its hub at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
Highlights will include new service between the Windy City and Santa Barbara and Monterey, California, as well as a special daily flight to Guadalajara, Mexico, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The latter flight will operate between June 8 and June 27, 2026, giving United nonstop routes from Chicago to all 16 host cities for this summer's World Cup.
Breeze Airways Expands Service From Raleigh-Durham
Breeze Airways E190 Jet. (Photo Credit: Halo Creative Studio / Adobe Stock)
Startup budget carrier Breeze Airways is growing its network of destinations from North Carolina's Raleigh-Durham International Airport this year, flying nonstop to San Antonio, Texas, and Madison, Wisconsin, beginning on May 8 and launching service from RDU to Atlantic City, New Jersey, on June 11.
Spirit Improves Access to Myrtle Beach
Ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines will resume spring break routes to warm weather destinations in 2026, and the highlights include five-times weekly service between Latrobe, Pennsylvania and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, beginning in mid-April.
Spirit will also connect Pittsburgh and Myrtle Beach with once daily service this coming spring, giving Pennsylvania residents something to look forward to amid the bitter cold.
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