Meagan Drillinger
St. Maarten saw notable visitor gains in the second quarter of 2025, with airport arrivals up 16.9% and cruise arrivals rising 14% compared with the same period last year, according to data from the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau. The growth carried into the summer months, adding momentum as the destination looks ahead to additional airlift and new hotel projects over the next two years.
Z Air launched service from Curacao to Princess Juliana Airport in St. Maarten this summer, and several new routes are scheduled to begin service through the end of this year and in 2026, adding capacity at key times of the year.
? United Airlines' weekend service from Chicago begins in October. Flights will leave O'Hare at 8:45
a.m. and arrive in St. Maarten at 10:37 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
? American Airlines is adding weekly service from Chicago on Saturdays beginning Nov. 8.
? Contour Airlines begins service three times a week from San Juan on Nov. 14. Flights will operate Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Departures from San Juan leave at 11:40
a.m., arriving at Princess Juliana at 12:45 p.m., with return flights leaving St. Maarten at
1:45 p.m.
? JetBlue plans to introduce service from Fort Lauderdale in December, operating four flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
? Winair: Expanded winter 2025 schedule to six
weekly flights to both Barbados and St. Lucia and twice-weekly service
to St. Vincent.
? Southwest Airlines will debut daily nonstops from Orlando in April 2026 and also plans weekend service from Baltimore, with flights departing BWI Airport Saturdays and Sundays at 8:10 a.m. and arriving in St. Maarten at 12:25
p.m. That service will also launch in April.
New places to stay
St. Maarten's lodging sector is also evolving, with new luxury and branded developments in the works.
Vie L'Ven Resort and Residences is under construction with a projected opening over the 2027/28 high season. The project will feature a 30,000-square-foot destination spa, beach club, private dock, and more than 600 feet of shoreline. Dining will include a signature restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. The development also includes 280 residences with private plunge pools, expansive terraces, and ocean views. These residences will be put into the rental inventory, and guests will have access to the amenities and restaurants.
? Related: At new Princess Juliana Airport, arrivals are now a hassle-free experience
Elie Saab Villas is another luxury project that is taking shape. The Indigo Bay project will add 12 luxury homes to a 150-acre gated community overlooking the beachfront. Offered in four- and five-bedroom layouts, each villa includes private elevator access, heated infinity pools and Jacuzzis, and smart-home systems with concierge integration.
Interiors are furnished by Elie Saab Maison, with custom closets, kitchens and bathrooms designed for the project. Villas also include private gardens. Travel advisors will be able to book these villas for clients through the rental program.