JetBlue Brings Forward Caribbean Expansion

US low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways is to bring forward the launch of its new flights from San Juan to St Croix and St Thomas, its first ever link to Cyril E King Airport on the island of St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. The airline revealed in June that it would introduce the flights on December 15 but has now confirmed it will inaugurate them three days earlier on December 12.

JetBlue will offer a twice daily rotation to St Thomas from San Juan, a route already served by American Eagle Airlines, Cape Air, Seaborne Airlines and United Airlines, with Sun Country Airlines also offering charter links. An estimated 73,000 O&D passengers travelled on the route in the past year. The airline will offer a daily flight to St Croix, also in the US Virgin Islands. This route is also served by American Airlines, Cape Air and Seaborne Airlines, which together offer around 1,500 weekly seats on over 65 weekly flights. An estimated 58,000 O&D passengers flew between the two destinations in the past year.

JetBlue is already the second largest operator at San Juan behind American Airlines and this latest expansion will help it expand its activities in the Puerto Rican market. It currently offers flights to seven destinations in the mainland US from San Juan as well as services to New York JFK and Orlando International from Aguadilla and Ponce.

Over the past year, JetBlue has grown 38 per cent in Puerto Rico and now offers more than 30 daily departures. The carrier has started new services from San Juan to Tampa and Jacksonville, announced a link to St Maarten, and increased Boston flights from two daily to four daily, bringing 35 daily flights to the island this summer. Later in the year the airline will increase service on the popular route between San Juan and Santo Domingo from three to five daily flights and will also link Boston to St Thomas from December 15 with the flights routing via San Juan on the northbound leg to Boston.

"It is only thanks to the tremendous support we've received from the Puerto Rican community that we have been able to grow at this pace, by adding more options and more destinations for visitors and residents of the Puerto Rico alike," said Dave Barger, President and CEO, JetBlue.