Southwest Airlines is significantly broadening its tropical reach with a series of new nonstop flights connecting Nashville and Columbus directly to the Caribbean starting next spring. This expansion highlights Nashville’s rapid growth as an international gateway, moving beyond its domestic roots to connect Middle Tennessee with premier island destinations.
Beginning March 13, Southwest will launch three new Saturday-only routes from Nashville International Airport to Aruba, Montego Bay (Jamaica), and St. Thomas (U.S. Virgin Islands).
These new flights join Southwest’s existing Nashville service to international destinations such as Cancun, Punta Cana, and San Juan, offering travelers in Tennessee and neighboring states more direct options that bypass traditional hubs like Atlanta or Miami.
Additionally, the airline is introducing Saturday service between John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Ohio and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. This provides Midwestern travelers with a direct link to one of the Caribbean’s largest resort regions.
The expansion is built specifically around the Saturday-to-Saturday vacation calendar. While weekly service has limitations for those needing flexible travel dates, it aligns perfectly with the standard seven-night stays required by many Caribbean resorts, villas, and all-inclusive properties.
This growth comes as Southwest plans a record-breaking schedule for March, with over 4,000 departures on Saturdays across its network.
