JetBlue Airways has announced plans to increase its flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport starting this winter. The airline intends to offer up to 113 departures daily during peak travel periods. The new service will include nine destinations, primarily focusing on nonstop flights to Caribbean and Latin American cities. This expansion will also bring two new domestic routes to Fort Lauderdale: New Orleans and Pittsburgh.
The new cities to be served year-round from Fort Lauderdale are: Aruba, Cali (Colombia), Cartagena (Colombia), Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands), Liberia (Costa Rica), San Pedro Sula (Honduras), and St. Maarten. More flights will also be added to existing international destinations such as Cancún (Mexico), Kingston (Jamaica), Punta Cana (Dominican Republic), San José (Costa Rica), and Santiago (Dominican Republic).
On the domestic side, JetBlue will offer flights to New Orleans and Pittsburgh starting in November. Additional flights will also be added to Atlanta, Boston, Hartford, and San Juan.
To celebrate the increase in flights, JetBlue is offering fares starting at $113 or less from Fort Lauderdale to any of the 46 nonstop destinations it will serve this fall.
Mark E. Gale, the CEO and Director of Aviation at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, expressed excitement for the expansion, stating that it will provide more convenient and cost-effective travel options for both business and leisure travelers in South Florida.
This expansion comes at a crucial time for the airport, as it has recently lost EL AL Israel and Silver Airways. Passenger traffic at the airport has also declined, mirroring a trend in the industry. However, JetBlue remains the second-largest carrier at Fort Lauderdale, behind Spirit Airlines.
Spirit Airlines, which is headquartered in Dania Beach, has seen a 33% increase in airport traffic and currently operates 102 peak daily departures from Fort Lauderdale. In response to JetBlue’s expansion, Spirit reaffirmed its commitment to the airport, stating that no other carrier is as dedicated to Fort Lauderdale as they are.
JetBlue’s Vice President of Network Planning and Airline Partnerships, Dave Jehn, stated that the airline is proud to continue raising the bar for customers in South Florida and providing them with convenient travel options to their desired destinations.
Overall, JetBlue’s expansion at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is seen as a positive move for both the airline and the airport, providing travelers with more options and enhancing the airport’s status as a major hub in the region.