JetBlue Expands its Network in Colombia

US carrier JetBlue Airways is to expand its activities in the Colombian market with the introduction of a daily connection to Bogota's El Dorado International Airport from Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport with effect from May 7, 2012. The route will provide more opportunities for the increasing Colombian population in South Florida to travel between the two countries.

"We've been flying to Colombia for more than three years and could not be more pleased with the reception we've received," said John Checketts, Director of Route Planning for JetBlue Airways. "Customers appreciate JetBlue's value proposition and continue to ask for more flights to Colombia. Bogota is a beautiful destination with strong ties to our Florida customers, who will enjoy the additional legroom, free snacks and drinks and exceptional service on this new route."

JetBlue offers daily flights to Bogota from New York JFK International and Orlando International and is one of seven airlines currently providing more than 175 flights per week between USA and Colombia. In the past year an estimated 2.10 million O&D passengers travelled between the two countries with traffic from the Florida region accounting for just over half this total.

There are currently 121 weekly flights into Colombia from Florida offering almost 15,000 seats. Avianca dominates this market with a 42.7 per cent share of the capacity followed by American Airlines with 30.5 per cent. JetBlue currently holds a 5.6 per cent share of the available seats, a figure that will rise to around ten per cent once the new route launches.

JetBlue will be entering a market against established operators. Avianca and Spirit Airlines both offer daily flights to Bogota from Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International, with Spirit also serving Armenia, Cartagena and Medellin from the airport. An estimated 175,000 O&D passengers travelled on the Fort Lauderdale – Bogota route in 2011.