The US Virgin Islands, which has been the hottest destination in the Caribbean over the last few years, is set for another tourism boost with new daily flights to the island of St Croix. 

American Airlines has announced plans to expand to daily nonstop flights between Charlotte and St Croix, connecting one of the United States’ top air hubs with the vibrant Caribbean destination.

The expanded Charlotte-St Croix service will begin on Dec. 5, part of a broader expansion for American Airlines in Charlotte. American is adding 40 percent more seats to the region out of Charlotte in the winter of 2023, the company said. 

St Croix has been seeing strong visitor growth on the heels of a popular rebranding campaign that dubbed St Croix “A Vibe Like No Other.”

That has helped shine a light on a destination that was always one of the most diverse, fascinating places to visit in the wider Caribbean, from its position as a true culinary capital of the region to its deep history and stunning natural environment. 

St Croix has been seeing particularly strong momentum in its two popular cities: Frederiksted on the west coast and Christiansted on the north coast. 

Frederiksted, buoyed by the opening several years ago of the celebrated The Fred boutique hotel, has been cultivating a cool, quirky identity with a mix of great cafes, eateries, beach bars and a burgeoning nightlife, all complementing some of the best beaches on the island. 

In Christiansted, there has been a full-fledged renaissance downtown, with reinvigorated, transformed hotels like the King Christian, the Company House and Caravelle and a dining scene that has only strengthened since the pandemic. 

It’s become one of the buzziest places to visit this year, and a reminder of the broad diversity of the US Virgin Islands’ main destinations of St Thomas, St John and St Croix.