JetBlue announced its latest new routes today. The US carrier is bringing two new routes to Puerto Rico, just in time for summer. Both new routes to "La Isla del Encanto" will be year-round and arrive this summer. From San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), JetBlue will fly to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in North Carolina, and from Rafael Hernández International Airport (BQN) in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, to Tampa International Airport (TPA) in Florida.

JetBlue is the largest airline in Puerto Rico and timed the announcement to coincide with its 21st anniversary of service in San Juan. The airline currently operates from its focus city of San Juan, as well as in Aguadilla and Ponce, with an average of 35 departures from Puerto Rico per day.

Growth on the Horizon in Puerto Rico

With the introduction of Raleigh, the airline will now fly between Puerto Rico and twelve destinations in the US and the Caribbean. Robin Hayes, Chief Executive Officer of JetBlue, highlighted the potential for even more growth:

“This growth will increase competition and choice for customers traveling to and from Puerto Rico and for travelers in Raleigh and Tampa, while also building on our commitment to support tourism on the island and connect family and friends.

"We look forward to delivering even more of the much-loved JetBlue experience – with our unique combination of low fares and award-winning service – to our customers traveling between Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland following the successful completion of our combination with Spirit.”

JetBlue-A220-from-Tail

The expansion is set to lay the groundwork for a future JetBlue-Spirit operation. The airline hopes the will unlock the successful completion of the planned merger will generate long-term growth opportunities in Puerto Rico that would not be otherwise possible. JetBlue confirmed that it will continue to look at adding service on more routes and to expand travel options in and out of Puerto Rico, launching new nonstop service to destinations that are not presently viable today.

Launching New Service to Aguadilla

JetBlue's new service in Aguadilla debuts unopposed. The year-round service arrives on July 5th and connects Aguadilla's Rafael Hernández International Airport (BQN) with Tampa International Airport (TPA) in Florida. With the new addition of Tampa, JetBlue will fly up to 5 daily departures from Aguadilla this year.

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The daily flights depart Tampa at 12:05 and arrive in Aguadilla at 14:57. Returning passengers leave Puerto Rico at 15:50 and land in Florida at 18:36. JetBlue will not face any direct competition on the route. The closest alternative flight is Frontier Airlines' route to Aguadilla from Orlando. Carlos Mercado Santiago, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, shared his enthusiasm for the new link to the regional airport:

“The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is thrilled to announce along with our partner, JetBlue, the incorporation of these new routes. The expanded network connects two of Puerto Rico’s main airports to key markets in the continental United States providing travelers with even more options to explore and enjoy the diversity available on the island.

We value the longstanding alliance between the Government of Puerto Rico and JetBlue, and look forward to continue providing excellence in the visitor experience, and increasing Tourism’s contribution to local economies”,

JetBlue Airbus A220

San Juan in focus

JetBlue is doubling down on its focus city strategy in San Juan. The airline is launching a new route from the Puerto Rican capital to North Carolina's capital Raleigh on July 5th, 2023. With the addition of this new route, JetBlue will now link San Juan with twelve nonstop destinations with an average of 30 departures per day from the city's Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport.

The new service from San Juan to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) will operate daily. The outbound flight departs RDU at 09:00 and lands on the Caribbean island at 12:35. The return leg departs San Juan at 13:45, arriving back into North Carolina at 17:30. Pedro Pierluisi, the Governor of Puerto Rico, expressed his excitement at JetBlue's announcement:

“We’re excited about the news of additional JetBlue direct flights between Puerto Rico and the US mainland. These two new flights will help us to continue on the path of growth in our tourism sector. We look forward to building on JetBlue's success in Puerto Rico.”

The terminal at San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU
Photo: JetBlue

JetBlue will operate both new routes using its Airbus A320 fleet of aircraft.

A host of new routes at RDU

This summer appears quite busy for the airport serving the Capital of North Carolina, the greater Research Triangle, and southern Virginia. In addition to the JetBlue launch, the airport will see quite a few new destinations appear on its route map this year. Avelo Airlines, the fastest-growing carrier at the airport, will begin service to Wilmington, Delaware, in June.

Avelo's twelfth route from RDU, the link is targeted at point-to-point traffic and travelers headed for Philadelphia, a short drive north of Wilmington Airport. Also arriving in June is a nonstop service from RDU to Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) that will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays with a Boeing 737 aircraft.

Breeze Airways will also launch a new service to Islip on New York's Long Island this summer. The carrier will fly to Islip on Thursdays and Sundays beginning June 29th. The recent announcement follows that of five new destinations arriving in May: Columbus, OH; Jacksonville, FL; Los Angeles, CA; Pittsburgh, PA; and Louisville, KY.

Jetblue PC RDU
Photo: Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Elsewhere, Frontier Airlines is adding services to Chicago-Midway on June 16th and Houston Intercontinental from June 18th.