Contour Airlines adds nonstop St. Thomas to Sint Maarten flights starting Oct. 5

Travelers taking Contour Airlines’ new nonstop route will pass through immigration and customs because it connects the U.S. Virgin Islands with Dutch Sint Maarten.

Twice-weekly service begins Oct. 5

Contour will begin flying between Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas and Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten on Oct. 5. The approximately one-hour flights will operate Mondays and Fridays on 30-seat regional jets.

• Monday flights leave St. Thomas at 11:35 a.m. and arrive at 12:30 p.m. Return service departs Sint Maarten at 1:15 p.m. and lands at 2:10 p.m.

• On Fridays, flights leave St. Thomas at 12:35 p.m. and reach Sint Maarten at 1:35 p.m. The return departs at 2:30 p.m. and arrives at 3:25 p.m.

Passports and entry checks still apply

U.S. citizens generally don’t need passports for domestic travel between the U.S. mainland, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They will need a valid passport to enter Sint Maarten, however and U.S. Customs and Border Protection rules apply when returning to St. Thomas.

Other nationalities must meet Dutch Caribbean entry rules for Sint Maarten and U.S. entry requirements for the return trip, including a visa or ESTA when required. Longer stays may require separate residence or work authorization under Sint Maarten’s residency rules.

Travelers accustomed to reaching St. Thomas without a passport should check its validity before departure, since the Sint Maarten leg is international.

Tickets and limited travel days

Tickets are available through Contour’s website, its customer service line at +1 888-332-6686 and travel agencies. The jets will offer extra legroom, complimentary snacks and inflight service.

Only Monday and Friday flights are scheduled at launch. Midweek trips will still require a connecting flight or other regional transport.