Tampa International Airport and Breeze Airways announced nonstop service between TPA and Cyril E. King Airport (STT) in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, launching December 16, 2026. The route marks TPA's first-ever nonstop to St. Thomas — a destination that Tampa Bay travelers have historically reached only through connecting flights in Atlanta, Miami, New York, Orlando (MCO), or Fort Lauderdale (FLL).
The timing couldn't be better. Spirit Airlines — which flew nonstop from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando to STT for 20 years — ceased all operations in May 2026, leaving a significant gap in Florida's low-cost access to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Breeze steps in as the first new low-cost carrier to add nonstop Florida–STT service since Spirit's shutdown, opening Tampa as an entirely new gateway to the islands. The route is part of Breeze's continued expansion at TPA, bringing its total nonstop destinations from Tampa to 37 — five of which are now international.
Route details: TPA ↔ STT
Breeze will operate TPA–STT twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, timed to maximize weekend access to the islands.
| Route | Departure | Arrival | Flight time |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPA → STT | 2:39 PM | 5:39 PM | 3h 00m |
| STT → TPA | 6:39 PM | 10:09 PM | 3h 30m |
How many flights per week, month, and year?
At 2x weekly frequency, here's what TPA–STT looks like over time:
| Period | Departures from TPA | Departures from STT | Total round trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per week | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Per month | ~8–9 | ~8–9 | ~8–9 |
| Per year (if sustained 52 weeks) | ~104 | ~104 | ~104 |
Annual figures assume year-round operation at consistent twice-weekly frequency. Actual frequency may vary seasonally. Service starts December 16, 2026.
How many seats per flight?
Breeze operates the Airbus A220-300 on longer routes, including its Florida-to-Caribbean markets. The A220-300 seats up to 137 passengers in Breeze's typical cabin configuration, which spans three tiers:
- Nicest — Breeze's premium first-class cabin with wider seats
- Nicer — Extra legroom economy (Ascent seating)
- Nice — Standard economy
All seats include fast onboard Wi-Fi. At 137 seats and a typical 82% Caribbean leisure load factor, each flight carries approximately 112 passengers. With ~208 annual one-way flights (TPA→STT plus STT→TPA), Breeze would move roughly 23,000 passengers per year between Tampa and St. Thomas at that utilization — a meaningful new airlift market for USVI tourism.
Filling the gap left by Spirit Airlines
The timing of Breeze's TPA–STT announcement carries additional weight in the context of Florida's USVI air market. Spirit Airlines — which served STT for 20 years — ceased all operations in May 2026 after its second Chapter 11 bankruptcy collapsed. Spirit had operated the only nonstop flights from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to STT and competed with Southwest on the Orlando (MCO) route.
Spirit's shutdown removed an estimated 725 annual flights and roughly 108,000 passengers per year from Florida's STT airlift — along with the ultra-low fares (as cheap as $59 one-way) that had made the USVI accessible to price-sensitive travelers from South and Central Florida.
Breeze's TPA–STT route doesn't fly from Fort Lauderdale or Orlando, so it isn't a direct route-for-route replacement. But it does something arguably more significant for the USVI: it opens a brand-new Florida gateway to St. Thomas that has never existed. Tampa is the fourth-largest metro in Florida and one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Until December 2026, those travelers had no nonstop option at all.
| Florida–STT nonstop | Carrier | Status (as of Dec 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) → STT | Spirit Airlines | Gone — Spirit ceased operations May 2026. No replacement announced. |
| Orlando (MCO) → STT | Southwest Airlines | Active — daily nonstop launched February 2026, survives Spirit's exit |
| Tampa (TPA) → STT | Breeze Airways | NEW — first-ever nonstop, launches December 16, 2026 |
No passport required
One of the most compelling aspects of flying to St. Thomas — especially for families and travelers without passports — is that no passport is needed. The U.S. Virgin Islands is a territory of the United States, so U.S. citizens travel with only a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or government-issued photo ID, exactly like any domestic flight. TSA screening is standard; there is no customs or immigration checkpoint.
That means Tampa Bay travelers can be on a Caribbean beach within hours of leaving home — no international travel documents, no added complexity. For the large segment of American travelers who don't hold passports, St. Thomas via Breeze from TPA is a genuinely easy first Caribbean trip.
About Breeze Airways
Breeze was founded by David Neeleman — the entrepreneur behind JetBlue, WestJet, and Azul — and launched in 2021 with a focus on nonstop routes between mid-size cities that are typically underserved by the major carriers. The airline has grown to become a meaningful presence at TPA, and the St. Thomas route fits its model precisely: a leisure market with strong demand and no existing nonstop competition.
“With these new routes, Tampa will now offer service to all of our international destinations and be the first to experience our new service to the beautiful U.S. Virgin Islands,” said David Neeleman, Breeze Airways' founder and CEO. “We know our guests will love these destinations and we look forward to launching this winter.”
What it means for STT's network
With Breeze's entry, St. Thomas adds its first Tampa nonstop and a new low-cost carrier connection to the Florida market. Here's a current snapshot of STT's nonstop network heading into winter 2026–27:
| Airline | Nonstop routes to STT | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | JFK, MIA, BOS, SJU | Year-round; multiple daily from JFK and MIA |
| Delta Air Lines | ATL, JFK | Year-round hub feeders |
| United Airlines | EWR, IAD, ORD, IAH | Newark and Dulles are primary hubs |
| Southwest Airlines | MCO, BWI | Daily nonstops; launched February 2026 |
| JetBlue | BOS, SJU | Boston frequency increased for winter 2025–26 |
| Frontier Airlines | SJU, DEN (seasonal) | Inter-Caribbean + Denver seasonal |
| Breeze Airways | TPA (new Dec 16) | First-ever Tampa–St. Thomas nonstop; 2x weekly |
Track STT flights on VIslandGuide
Check today's STT arrivals, departures, crowd forecasts, and TSA wait estimates on the VIslandGuide Flights tool — updated in real time.
STT Flight Dashboard →How to book
Tickets for TPA–STT and TPA–CUN are on sale now directly through Breeze Airways. Breeze doesn't sell through third-party booking platforms — all reservations are made on its website or app. Introductory fares are typically the lowest prices you'll see on a new route, so booking early after announcement often yields the best deals.
Service to St. Thomas starts December 16, 2026, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Flights are bookable at flybreeze.com.
Frequently asked questions
When does Breeze start flying from Tampa to St. Thomas?
December 16, 2026. Breeze will fly TPA–STT twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The outbound departs Tampa at 2:39 PM and arrives in St. Thomas at 5:39 PM.
Do I need a passport to fly from Tampa to St. Thomas?
No. The U.S. Virgin Islands is a U.S. territory. U.S. citizens need only a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or other government-issued photo ID — the same as any domestic flight. No passport, no customs.
Is this the first nonstop flight from Tampa to St. Thomas?
Yes. TPA has never previously had nonstop service to STT. Tampa Bay travelers have historically connected through Atlanta, Miami, or New York to reach St. Thomas. Breeze's December 2026 launch is a genuine first for the market.
Is Breeze replacing Spirit Airlines on Florida–STT routes?
Not directly — Breeze flies from Tampa, while Spirit's routes were from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. But Breeze does add a new low-cost Florida nonstop to STT at a time when Spirit's May 2026 shutdown left a significant gap in the Florida-to-USVI market. Fort Lauderdale still has no nonstop to STT; that gap remains unfilled.