JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) today announced it is expanding its presence in Havana and Mexico City with three new routes and more flights from the airline’s northeast and south Florida focus cities (a).
JetBlue will offer New England’s first non-stop service to Cuba with flights on Saturdays between Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) and Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport (HAV) beginning November 10, 2018. JetBlue will further expand service to Cuba with up to three daily flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Havana on Sundays through Fridays beginning November 11, 2018. The new service is the result of frequencies granted to the airline by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The routes are subject to government approval and will go on sale in the coming weeks.
“As the first airline to operate commercial service between the U.S. and Cuba in more than 50 years, we are proud to announce another JetBlue first by offering the only nonstop service between New England and Havana,” said Marty St. George, executive vice president commercial and planning, JetBlue. “Between the Boston service and the additional frequency between south Florida and Havana, we are cementing our position as a top choice for travel to Cuba.”
“JetBlue’s new nonstop service between Boston and Havana will provide better connections for our leading healthcare, biotechnology, financial, cultural and educational institutions to link those vital sectors with new opportunities in Cuba,” said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. “There has been a strong demand for this service and we look forward to the exciting new travel opportunities it will generate for the entire New England region.”
JetBlue also announced plans to introduce two new daily nonstop flights to Mexico City with service from Boston and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) beginning October 25, 2018. The new routes, subject to government approval, will add to JetBlue’s existing service to Mexico City from Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Fort Lauderdale. With this new service, JetBlue will offer six daily flights between the U.S. and Mexico’s capital city.
“This new service from our two largest focus cities will make it easier for our customers in New York and Boston to discover Mexico City with their favorite airline,” said St. George.
JetBlue’s new service to Mexico City follows a decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation to require certain airlines to divest airport slots in order to enhance competition at Mexico City International Airport.
“We thank the DOT for requiring slot divesture at Mexico City so as to foster more choices for the traveling public,” said James Hnat, executive vice president and general counsel, JetBlue. “More than ever, it is crucially important that federal regulators continue to address competition concerns at slot-restricted airports and take steps to assist carriers like JetBlue with securing meaningful access to restricted markets.”
All new service to Cuba and Mexico will be operated on JetBlue’s Airbus A320 aircraft featuring the airline’s award-winning service with comfortable seating; complimentary and unlimited name-brand snacks; more than 100 channels of free SIRIUSXM® radio programming and 36 channels of free, live DIRECTV® programming on personal seatback televisions; free Fly-Fi high-speed wireless Internet (b), and the most legroom in coach. (c)