JetBlue Strengthens San Juan Services

JetBlue Airways has announced it will offer new summer 2012 links to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) from San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU), expanding its network from the Puerto Rican capital to 13 destinations.

"The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has overwhelmingly supported JetBlue service from day one. Our customers appreciate the value that JetBlue provides when traveling," said John Checketts, Director of Route Planning, JetBlue Airways. "San Juan is the cornerstone of our growth in the Caribbean; today's announcement reinforces that commitment. As Puerto Rico's number one carrier, JetBlue continues to seek growth opportunities."

As John Checketts acknowledged, JetBlue is one of the largest carriers in the Puerto Rico market. In the past year it carried more than two million passengers into and out of Puerto Rico giving it a 23.9 per cent share of the international O&D traffic, second only to American Airlines which holds a 28.2 per cent share.

JetBlue will offer a daily service on the two new routes with flights to Newark Liberty International beginning on April 25, 2012 and the link to Palm Beach International commencing on May 15, 2012. It is estimated that the latter service to PBI will bring approximately 15,000 more hotel guests and 20,000 room nights to Palm Beach County, totaling $7million in direct economic impact.

This is the second new route that JetBlue will introduce to Palm Beach International Airport next year following the planned inauguration of the facility’s first ever non-stop connection to Hartford in January 2012. Air Canada is also adding a second Toronto flight in a further boost for the airport.

“The announcement of this new service to San Juan clearly demonstrates the potential our airline partners see in our destination- particularly partners such as JetBlue,” said Bruce Pelly, Director of Airports, Palm Beach County. “We are thrilled to be entering a new market and are confident its anticipated success will open even more doors into more markets for Palm Beach International Airport.”