St. Croix has its first New York-area nonstop in decades. There’s one catch: it flies only on Saturdays

A direct flight returns

United Airlines flight 1409 landed on St. Croix on Saturday, restoring nonstop service from the New York City area to the U.S. Virgin Island after more than three decades. The Boeing 737-700 left Newark shortly after 9 a.m. and reached Henry E. Rohlsen Airport almost four and a half hours later, the St. Thomas Source reported.stthomassource

The connection gives island residents and visitors an alternative to a layover, but it is limited: United plans one round trip each Saturday. Its predecessor Continental last flew the Newark–St. Croix route in October 1994, according to the Virgin Islands Consortium.prnewswire +1

What the Saturday schedule means

United’s published schedule calls for the outbound flight to leave Newark at 9:03 a.m. and arrive at 1:20 p.m. The return is scheduled to depart St. Croix at 2:25 p.m. and reach Newark at 6:58 p.m.; times are local. The plane has 126 seats, including 12 in business class.prnewswire

A Saturday-only schedule makes a weeklong stay a natural fit, but travelers seeking other departure days will need a different routing. American offers service to St. Croix from Miami, while San Juan provides another connecting option, according to local travel guide GoToStCroix. Flight availability and schedules should be checked before booking.gotostcroix

More ways to reach the islands

United also flies from Newark to St. Thomas, making St. Croix a second U.S. Virgin Islands option from the hub.airlinegeeks For people traveling beyond Newark, the new route also offers a possible connection through the airport rather than a second stop elsewhere.viconsortium

The first round trip had a local distinction: the incoming and outgoing flight crews were led by pilots from St. Croix, the St. Thomas Source reported.stthomassource