You’d think you can fly just about anywhere nonstop from the Big Apple, right?
I mean, the broader NY region has 5 airports in total…
You can fly to Belgrade, Serbia, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Fuzhou, China, but hot diggity dog, you can’t fly to one of America’s most beloved paradises?
Apparently, the people have spoken, and United took notice as the popular airline is set to fill a surprising gap in New York City’s massive route map.
The truth is, as fun as it is to have a passport, it’s nice to have one less thing to worry about when traveling — especially entry requirements.
Take it from me, who once had their passport pickpocketed, even though the real crime was wearing cargo shorts.
Guilty as charged.
But had I visited one of the Caribbean’s most pristine islands, I wouldn’t have needed excessively large pockets — I’d just rock swim trunks and sip mai tais all day, as one does in the gorgeous U.S. Virgin Islands.
That’s why United Airlines and the U.S. Virgin Islands were proud to announce in tandem an overdue flight route connecting the Tri-State area to this passport-free island.
New York, Meet St. Croix
USVI is comprised of more than 50 cays and islands, but most notably the following trio:
- St. Thomas
- St. John
- St. Croix
Being a U.S. territory, one would imagine you could fly in and out at will from America’s most populous city.
That’s not the case.
St. John doesn’t have an airport, but St. Thomas does — and yes, you can fly here directly from NYC from all 3 major airlines: American, United, and Delta.
St. Croix, though?
Shockingly, no — not even one. That’s why this is such exciting news.
Not every Virgin Island vacationer wants to visit other islands, or have to land somewhere else and hop aboard a ferry after a 4-hour or so flight, especially since St. Croix is 40 miles away from the other islands.
Instead, sun-seekers can soon fly straight to St. Croix without any extra hassle or headaches.
Newark (EWR) To St. Croix (STX)
Okay, okay — we know Newark, New Jersey is not technically “New York” — but it kinda is…
I’ve flown into Newark many times. In all honesty, it’s neck and neck with DFW as my least favorite U.S. airport.
If there’s one thing going for EWR, it’s that it doesn’t matter where you’re going next, whether across the Hudson to Manhattan or boarding a flight to almost anywhere, it elevates your vacation because you’re just happy to no longer be in Newark.
Don’t tell The Sopranos I said that…
Newark is a major hub for United, but this is one of their most exciting new flights in recent memory.
Slated for takeoff on October 31, 2026, the only thing spooky is how long it took New York to get this nonstop route.
You’ll want to prepare for a weeklong stay if you’re booking a round-trip, as the schedule will operate Saturdays only on a Boeing 737-700 with 12 Business Class seats.
Making St. Croix even more enticing, there are numerous beachfront hotels with rave reviews mere minutes from the airport.
No more flying into St. Thomas and navigating inter-island transfers to get here: fly right in, and flip on Vacation Mode from the get-go, especially with no customs to clear on arrival.
What Makes St. Croix Special
St. Croix isn’t the island travelers opt for when they’re satisfied inauthentic cruise-port chaos or a resort bubble with no reason to leave.
It stands out as the one you pick when you want more room to roam, boasting 2 historic towns, rum distilleries, local food, colorful waterfronts, less-crowded beaches, and reef-filled waters.
St. Thomas may be the busy gateway, and St. John may be the obvious nature escape, but St. Croix hits the sweet spot: more culture, more remote, with undeniable Caribbean splendor all wrapped into one place that’s now so much easier to reach come fall, when the weather is truly splendid, with average highs of 84 degrees in November.
How Safe Are The U.S. Virgin Islands To Visit?
Being a U.S. territory, the U.S. State Department says “thanks, but no thanks” on offering an official advisory.
However, we have our own tool to combat that: a real-time Safety Index voted by travelers like you and me.
Results are a bit surprising so far, currently seeing a score of just 70/100:
Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.
