Updated: July 9, 2026
Planning a winter escape from Ohio just got a little easier.
Southwest Airlines has announced new nonstop service between John Glenn Columbus International Airport and San Juan, Puerto Rico, giving Central Ohio travelers a direct route to one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean.
The new service will begin on February 13, 2027, with flights operating on Saturdays.
According to the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, San Juan has consistently ranked among the most requested destinations without direct service from Columbus. The new route means travelers will no longer need to connect through another city before heading to Puerto Rico’s beaches, historic districts, and tropical scenery.
Columbus to San Juan: the flight details
- Airline: Southwest Airlines
- Route: John Glenn Columbus International (CMH) to Luis Muñoz MarÃn International (SJU)
- First flight: Saturday, February 13, 2027
- Schedule: once weekly, on Saturdays
- Flight time: around 5 hours
- Booking: southwest.com, as February 2027 dates open on the airline’s booking calendar
No airline has ever flown this route nonstop before. That hasn’t stopped people from making the trip: Department of Transportation data shows about 53,000 travelers flew between Columbus and San Juan last year, most of them connecting through Orlando, Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, or Fort Lauderdale.
The announcement continues a busy stretch of growth for air travel in Columbus.
Airport officials say this marks the second new nonstop destination announced for 2027 and the twelfth new flight announcement since the beginning of 2026.
For travelers already dreaming about escaping Ohio’s coldest months, the timing couldn’t be much better. The first flight launches just as winter is settling in across Central Ohio, offering a direct path to sunshine, ocean views, and temperatures that don’t require a heavy coat.
The route will be operated by Southwest Airlines, currently the largest carrier serving John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
February 2027 is a while off, but a five-hour hop to San Juan beats connecting through Atlanta in the middle of winter. For more flight info, head over to flycolumbus.com.
Columbus to San Juan FAQ
Do you need a passport to fly from Columbus to San Juan?
No. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, so this counts as a domestic flight. U.S. citizens can board with a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or any other ID that works for domestic travel.
How long is the nonstop flight from Columbus to San Juan?
Around five hours, versus the connecting itineraries through Orlando, Atlanta, or Charlotte that Columbus travelers have had to use until now.
Can you book the Columbus to San Juan flight yet?
Southwest sells tickets as its booking calendar extends. When the route was announced in June 2026, the schedule was only open through January 2027, so February dates weren’t bookable yet. Check the Columbus to San Juan page on southwest.com for current availability.
