JetBlue Makes Route Changes, Places Emphasis on 'Focus Cities'
JetBlue is making big changes to its route network. The New York-based airline announced on Tuesday that it's shifting its strategy to double its efforts in focus cities.
The biggest announcement comes in the form of a new city entirely — Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE). Beginning in the first quarter of 2019, JetBlue will launch daily nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and GYE using Airbus A320 aircraft.
Adding service in Ecuador, where it already serves Quito (UIO), the airline is placing an emphasis both on its presence in FLL, where it's the leading carrier, but also in Latin America. JetBlue now operates in 22 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In addition to the new Latin America route, JetBlue is connecting several of its focus cities with other destinations. The following routes will be added to the route network, beginning this winter with daily service:
- Boston (BOS) ⇒ Rochester (ROC)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) ⇒ Phoenix (PHX)
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) ⇒ St. Maarten (SXM)
- Providence (PVD) ⇒ Palm Beach (PBI)
JetBlue is also shifting some routes and frequencies — including most from BOS and FLL.
As with many service additions from airlines, there are some subtractions to go with it. With Tuesday's announcement of expanded service, the airline also detailed plans that as of Jan. 8, 2019, it will eliminate the following routes:
- Daytona Beach (DAB) ⇒ New York (JFK) — daily
- St. Croix (STX) ⇒ San Juan (SJU) — daily
- Washington Dulles (IAD) ⇒ New York (JFK) — daily
- Washington Dulles (IAD) ⇒ Boston (BOS) — daily
JetBlue will also scale back on some frequencies that it says are underperforming. The airline says that "certain flights servicing Baltimore, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Santiago, Dominican Republic" will see a reduction, as well as flights between Mexico City and FLL and Orlando (MCO). Finally, JetBlue's daily year-round service between JFK and Portland, Maine (PWM) will be reduced to daily seasonal service — ending Jan. 7, 2019, for the winter season and resuming in spring 2019.
These route additions and changes come just a few weeks after JetBlue announced that it would be introducing a new basic economy fare class in 2019.
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