ST. CROIX — United Airlines returned to St. Croix on Saturday, October 31, restoring nonstop air service between Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport for the first time in 32 years. The occasion carried special significance for the island, with four Crucian pilots operating the inaugural flights in both directions.
Captain Shawn Lewis and First Officer Eugene Washington operated United Flight 1409 from Newark to St. Croix, while Captain Douglas Armstrong and First Officer Regine Acosta were assigned to Flight 1410 for the return trip to Newark.
The new service operates every Saturday aboard a Boeing 737-700 aircraft with 126 seats, including 12 in business class. United is now the only airline providing nonstop flights between St. Croix and the New York metropolitan area, restoring a route last operated by its predecessor, Continental Airlines, in October 1994.
Under the published inaugural schedule, Flight 1409 was scheduled to depart Newark at 9:03 a.m. and arrive on St. Croix at 1:20 p.m. The return flight, UA1410, was scheduled to depart Henry E. Rohlsen Airport at 2:25 p.m. and arrive in Newark at 6:58 p.m. Flight-tracking records show that Saturday's inaugural arrival reached St. Croix at approximately 1:39 p.m.
Beginning November 7, published schedules reflect the end of daylight saving time on the mainland, with the Newark departure remaining at 9:03 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and the St. Croix arrival moving to 2:20 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time. The return departure from St. Croix shifts to 3:25 p.m., arriving in Newark at 6:58 p.m. local time. Passengers should confirm schedules when booking.
The route gives St. Croix a direct connection to one of United's major international hubs, allowing passengers to reach the island from the Northeast without first making a connection through another airport. Newark also provides onward connections to destinations throughout the mainland United States and internationally.
For St. Croix's tourism industry, the service creates additional opportunities to attract visitors from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other markets served through Newark. The new flights also offer greater convenience for Virgin Islanders living in the Northeast who travel home to visit relatives, attend family events or conduct business.
Hotels, vacation rentals, restaurants, taxi operators, rental car agencies, tour providers and other businesses stand to benefit from additional visitors arriving directly on the island. The route could also support travel by investors, contractors and other professionals participating in economic development and rebuilding projects.
United representative Harry Cabrera said the St. Croix addition makes the island the airline's 23rd Caribbean destination served from the Newark/New York region. He described the service as another opportunity for residents, visitors and businesses to access United's broader route network.
Tourism Commissioner Jennifer Matarangas-King welcomed the return of nonstop service, emphasizing its importance to the territory's substantial diaspora in the tri-state area and the convenience it offers families traveling between the mainland and St. Croix.
Governor Albert Bryan Jr.'s chief of staff, Kevin Williams, described the connection as another way for Virgin Islanders to travel home and for businesses to access the Northeast. He also linked the flight to the administration's broader efforts to strengthen the island's tourism infrastructure and economic opportunities.
While the new airlift was widely welcomed, its launch follows concerns raised at Wednesday's V.I. Port Authority board meeting about the high cost of airline tickets. Board member Celestino White questioned whether additional flights would translate into more passengers if airfares remained expensive. Ms. Matarangas-King responded that airline pricing is influenced by fuel costs and other factors outside the territory's control.
Beyond the economic implications, Saturday's arrival was a particularly proud occasion for the four Crucian pilots, whose participation represented the achievements of Virgin Islanders in commercial aviation.
Following the aircraft's arrival at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, all four pilots spoke with the V.I. Consortium beside the United aircraft about their careers, returning home and the importance of inspiring another generation of Virgin Islands aviators.
First Officer Regine Acosta, whose early aviation accomplishments were documented by The Consortium more than a decade ago, described the homecoming as a deeply meaningful experience.
“I'm so proud to be a Virgin Islander, and I'm so glad to be back home,” Ms. Acosta said. “It's such an honor to be part of the inaugural flight here to St. Croix.”
She credited her family, mentors and others who supported her aviation ambitions, adding, “I hope to pave the way for the next generation as well.”
In June 2015, the Consortium reported that Ms. Acosta, then a 17-year-old senior at St. Croix Central High School, had successfully completed her first solo flight at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport. On May 19 of that year, she piloted a Beechcraft Musketeer through three takeoffs and landings.
At the time, she was a member of the Virgin Islands Youth Aviation Club and planned to pursue aeronautical science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Eleven years later, she returned to the same airport as a first officer with one of the world's major airlines.
Ms. Matarangas-King also recalled that Ms. Acosta had received a scholarship from Innovative, where the commissioner previously chaired a scholarship selection committee. She described seeing the former scholarship recipient return as a United pilot as a particularly rewarding moment.
Captain Shawn Lewis, who helped bring Saturday's inaugural flight into St. Croix, reflected on his own journey from a young boy fascinated by airplanes to a commercial airline captain.
“I'm very proud to be back,” Mr. Lewis said.
He recalled watching aircraft take off from the old airport concourse when he was five years old, later participating in the St. Croix Civil Air Patrol as a teenager and eventually flying for Seaborne Airlines.
Returning years later at the controls of a United Airlines aircraft was, he said, a “Very proud moment.”
First Officer Eugene Washington focused on the message he hoped Saturday's flight would send to young Virgin Islanders who might doubt their ability to pursue careers in aviation.
“This is an amazing moment,” he said, explaining that he wanted young people to recognize that their ambitions were achievable regardless of their academic backgrounds or personal circumstances.
“I'm a C student, right?” Mr. Washington said. “So if I could figure it out and be with smart people like your co-captains here, then they could do it too.”
Captain Douglas Armstrong became emotional while discussing his return and the family members who welcomed him home. He spoke about losing relatives in recent years and not being able to visit St. Croix as frequently as he would have liked.
“My family here is like the epitome of family,” he said, explaining that the bond remains strong regardless of how much time passes between visits.
Mr. Armstrong also echoed the other pilots' message to young Virgin Islanders, saying that seeing people from their own community succeed in aviation could help them recognize the opportunities available beyond the island. “Sky's the limit,” he said.
