United Airlines Just Launched a New Nonstop to St. Croix — With Four Hometown Pilots Leading the First Flights

The Newark service adds a direct Northeast connection to the U.S. Virgin Islands, with Saturday flights timed for weeklong Caribbean vacations.

United Airlines’ first nonstop flight from Newark touched down in St. Croix on October 31, adding a new way to reach the island from the New York metropolitan area.

And the inaugural flights had an unusually personal connection: all four pilots selected to operate the outbound and return services were St. Croix natives.

The launch brings another mainland gateway to an island we’ve long loved for its waterfront towns, distinctive food scene and beaches — with no passport required for U.S. citizens arriving from the mainland.

The New Flight

The Newark–St. Croix route, which we first reported ahead of its debut, operates on Saturdays. United announced the service with a Boeing 737-700 carrying 126 passengers, including 12 seats in business class.

That weekly schedule lends itself to a seven-night stay, with nonstop access from Newark Liberty International Airport to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix.

It also gives Virgin Islanders living in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut another direct connection home.

Four Pilots, One Homecoming

Captain Shawn Lewis and First Officer Eugene Washington operated the inaugural flight from Newark. Captain Douglas Armstrong and First Officer Regine Acosta were selected to fly the return service.

Their aviation careers followed different paths. Lewis began flying in the Caribbean. Washington grew up in St. Croix’s Princess area and served in the U.S. Air Force before joining United in 2024. Armstrong spent more than two decades in military aviation, while Acosta began her aviation journey through the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals.

Their shared connection to St. Croix gave the launch a hometown story extending beyond the arrival gate.

A Week in St. Croix

The reason to book is the island itself.

A St. Croix vacation can include time along Christiansted’s harbor, a boat excursion to Buck Island, and afternoons exploring Frederiksted and the west coast. Christiansted is also a departure point for excursions to Buck Island Reef National Monument.

We’d leave plenty of time for restaurants, too. Food is a central part of the experience here, alongside the historic towns and beach days.

The new Saturday nonstop makes it easier to put all of that into one week — from a Northeast departure to a stay on one of the Caribbean’s most rewarding islands.