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).
Related reading:
- When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
- The best airline credit cards
- What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app