JetBlue to launch service from Islip's Long Island MacArthur Airport
JetBlue is expanding to a new airport in New York – one that's not far from its home base.
Starting this fall, the carrier will launch service from Islip’s Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) to three destinations in Florida.
The move is a first for JetBlue, which is headquartered in New York and has a strong presence at the area’s three largest airports — most notably John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
"This new service aims to help better serve the many loyal JetBlue customers living on Long Island, providing them with more convenient travel options to popular destinations in Florida,” the carrier said in a statement Tuesday.
JetBlue's new Islip routes
With these three new routes, JetBlue is clearly hoping to take advantage of leisure travelers flying between New York and the Sunshine State, with service to popular vacation and seasonal destinations.
Here’s the full list of the three new routes:
- ISP to Orlando International Airport (MCO) — launches Oct. 24, operates daily
- ISP to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) — launches Oct. 24, operates four times weekly
- ISP to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) — launches Oct. 25, operates four times weekly
Related: JetBlue TrueBlue program: Earn and redeem points, transfer partners and more
Expanding New York footprint
The arrival of JetBlue in Islip will give the airport a fourth airline. Today, it’s served by Southwest Airlines, plus ultra-low-cost carriers Breeze Airways and Frontier Airlines.

As of October, prior to JetBlue’s arrival, here’s what the route map out of Islip will look like, as shown on the below map from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

The airport already has nonstops to the three destinations JetBlue will serve, which means the carrier will be injecting some competition into the Orlando, Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale routes.
This new airport for JetBlue comes as the carrier has been in the midst of a multimonth network shakeup in hopes of returning to profitability. The moves have seen JetBlue pull back in some cities like Los Angeles and over the winter at London Gatwick Airport (LGW), while bolstering its service to San Juan in Puerto Rico and doubling down on its Northeast presence — not to mention focusing on leisure travel, as CEO Joanna Geraghty told me the carrier would earlier this year.
"We're definitely known for leisure, we're born to do leisure,” Geraghty said in March of the airline’s plans, just before the launch of JetBlue’s Dublin service. “So, continuing to redouble around our leisure core, and what that brings.”
Located on the central part of Long Island, Islip's airport is about 45 miles from both JFK and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.

