JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU), the first airline to operate commercial service between the U.S. and Cuba in more than five decades, today announced it is again expanding and diversifying its flying schedule in Havana with new service from Boston and more flights from Fort Lauderdale. New England and South Florida nonstop service, combined with JetBlue’s existing nonstop service from New York and Orlando, means JetBlue will link Cuba’s capital with four American cities – more than any other U.S. airline.
“As the first airline to operate commercial service between the U.S. and Cuba, we are proud to celebrate another first as the only carrier to serve Havana from Boston while also growing our successful service in Fort Lauderdale,” said John Checketts, vice president network planning, JetBlue. “JetBlue will operate more than 50 weekly flights between the U.S. and Cuba from every one of our east coast focus cities.”
New England Nonstop
Starting November 10, 2018, JetBlue will operate Saturday service between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport (HAV). JetBlue, already the leading airline at Logan, will be the only carrier to offer nonstop service between New England and Cuba. Seats are on sale today with an introductory fare of $129 one way (a).
JetBlue has sought a nonstop route between Boston and Havana since first applying for commercial service to Cuba in 2016. Boston has over 120 institutions of higher education and more university students per capita than most other cities in the world. These educational institutions, as well as the healthcare and biotechnology companies located in the greater Boston area will benefit from the new, once-weekly service.
The new service also benefits customers in a number of other JetBlue cities – including Detroit, Cleveland and Pittsburgh – where travelers will benefit from new connecting options which make Havana just one stop away from home.
Havana will be the 68th destination served from Boston and the 17th international city. No other airline serves as many domestic or international cities at Logan. The added flights at Logan advance JetBlue’s plan to grow its leadership position in Boston. The airline plans to reach 200 daily flights in the coming years and already operates more than 150 daily flights.
Strengthening South Florida
JetBlue will also add an additional flight between its Fort Lauderdale focus city and Havana which will operate Sunday through Friday. The airline will now operate up to three daily flights between South Florida and Cuba’s capital city. JetBlue’s Cuba service in the Sunshine State provides convenient nonstop service to communities throughout the greater Fort Lauderdale and Miami areas. The added flight will also offer a new afternoon departure from Fort Lauderdale and a new evening flight from Havana.
Customer Favorite to Cuba
Flights between the U.S. and Havana feature the most legroom in coach (b) and complimentary and unlimited name-brand snacks and soft drinks. Select flights also feature free Fly-Fi, the fastest broadband internet in the sky (c); free, live DIRECTV® programming and 100 channels of SiriusXM® radio in every seatback.
JetBlue is proud to offer customer-friendly baggage allowances for travelers flying to or from Cuba, with the ability to check up to a total of three bags or boxes, each up to 99 lbs. and up to 80 linear inches (length + width +height) (d). Please see JetBlue’s Checked Baggage page for more information.
In addition to Havana, JetBlue serves three other Cuban cities with daily service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood:
Santa Clara – Abel Santamaría Airport (SNU)
Camagüey – Ignacio Agramonte Airport (CMW)
Holguín – Frank País Airport (HOG)
In September 2017, JetBlue opened a City Ticket Office and an Airport Ticket Office in Havana. Both locations offer a convenient option for Cubans to book travel on JetBlue, with the added benefit of in-person interactions which will provide the personal, helpful and simple customer experience the airline is known for.
JetBlue’s commercial service launch followed nearly five years of successful charter service operating multiple routes between Cuban markets and U.S. cities. In that time, JetBlue built strong relationships with airport authorities and worked closely together to make the successful launch of commercial service possible.
All U.S. customers traveling to Cuba must be authorized to do so under the U.S. government’s Cuban Assets Control Regulations and they must certify that they qualify for one of the twelve approved travel categories outlined by the U.S. Department of Treasury. All travelers to Cuba must make their own determinations with respect to the appropriate travel category, as well as the type of visa required by Cuba for their purpose of travel.