Published on
December 13, 2025
St. Maarten and Fort Lauderdale tourism are receiving a timely boost with the launch of new JetBlue nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). The route, which starts operating four times per week on a year-round basis, restores St. Maarten’s presence in JetBlue’s Fort Lauderdale network and strengthens South Florida’s role as an accessible gateway to Caribbean tourism.
Flight times are scheduled at just over three hours, enabling travellers from Fort Lauderdale and connecting JetBlue cities to reach one of the region’s most compact and experience-rich islands in a single daytime hop. The added capacity supports St. Maarten’s efforts to grow air arrivals and diversify source markets at a time when regional Caribbean tourism demand from the United States continues to rise.
Dual-nation island: Dutch Sint Maarten and French Saint Martin
St. Maarten / St. Martin is marketed as “Two Nations, One Island,” uniting the southern Dutch territory of Sint Maarten with the northern French collectivity of Saint-Martin on a single thirty-seven-square-mile landmass. The Dutch side in the south hosts the island’s major airport, cruise port and the capital Philipsburg, with a more Caribbean-leaning atmosphere and a reputation as one of the region’s most open, business-friendly tourism economies.
The French side to the north leans into a European-Caribbean blend, with quieter villages, nature-oriented experiences and a strong culinary culture expressed in towns like Marigot and Grand Case. For visitors arriving on JetBlue from Fort Lauderdale, this dual identity offers the chance to explore two distinct cultures, currencies and lifestyles in a single Caribbean tourism itinerary without border formalities between the two sides.
Culture, food and adventure tourism across the island
The island’s cultural tourism appeal is built on music, food, festivals and everyday experiences that flow across both sides while retaining distinct flavours. On the Dutch side, waterfront promenades, colourful bars and casual grills line areas such as Philipsburg’s boardwalk and Simpson Bay, offering a lively mix of beach clubs, marinas and nightlife that particularly attracts South Florida leisure travellers.
On the French side, open-air markets, bakeries, galleries and the celebrated dining village of Grand Case anchor a more European-paced rhythm, where long dinners and seaside strolls complement the island’s beach life. Inland, Pic Paradis, the island’s highest point, hosts hiking trails through tropical vegetation with panoramic views over both coasts, while zipline attractions and nature parks broaden the island’s profile as a compact hub for soft-adventure tourism.
Beaches from Orient Bay to Simpson Bay
St. Maarten / St. Martin is framed by around thirty-seven beaches, each with its own character, making the new JetBlue route particularly attractive for sun-and-sea tourism. On the French side, Orient Bay offers a long, lively sweep of sand with water sports and restaurants steps from the shore, while Grand Case Beach and Friar’s Bay deliver quieter, more sheltered stretches suited to relaxed swimming and family days.
On the Dutch side, Cupecoy is known for its dramatic cliffs and smaller coves that catch late-afternoon light, and Simpson Bay extends into one of the island’s longest, most versatile beaches, backed by small bars, marinas and a range of accommodations. Signature spots like Maho Beach, adjacent to SXM’s runway, add an aviation-themed spectacle that continues to differentiate St. Maarten in global Caribbean beach tourism storytelling.
Accommodation options supporting diverse tourism segments
The island’s accommodation mix, promoted through official and partner tourism channels, spans classic beachfront hotels, boutique villas, all-suite resorts and luxury brands. Properties around Grand Case, Orient Bay, Simpson Bay and the western headlands cater to a wide spectrum of travellers, from couples seeking intimate hideaways to families and groups looking for apartment-style stays close to dining districts and marinas.
For visitors arriving from Fort Lauderdale, JetBlue’s schedule facilitates long-weekend escapes and week-long holidays that can be centered on a single base or split between the Dutch and French sides to experience different atmospheres and culinary scenes. This flexibility underpins St. Maarten’s positioning as both a standalone destination and a jumping-off point for trips to nearby islands such as Anguilla, St Barthélemy and Saba, accessible via short ferry or air transfers.
Tourism impact of JetBlue’s four-times-weekly, year-round service
The four-times-weekly JetBlue service from Fort Lauderdale is part of a broader expansion of the airline’s operations at FLL, adding new Caribbean routes as US carriers respond to shifting demand and competitive dynamics in South Florida. For St. Maarten’s tourism economy, which is working to grow visitor numbers from the Americas and consolidate its recovery across air and cruise segments, the additional seats directly support higher stay-over arrivals and more resilient year-round demand.
By coupling Fort Lauderdale’s extensive domestic connectivity with a nonstop link to SXM, JetBlue gives US travellers from multiple states a convenient path into St. Maarten’s dual-nation tourism offering without requiring connections through traditional Northeast hubs. As the route matures, St. Maarten’s tourism authorities and partners are positioned to leverage the new capacity through targeted marketing, island-hopping promotions and event-led campaigns, further embedding the destination within the Caribbean leisure travel maps of South Florida and beyond.
Image Credit: JetBlue Airways
