JetBlue launches new Fort Lauderdale to TCI route

TRAVELLERS can now purchase tickets on JetBlue Airways’ new route between Fort Lauderdale and Providenciales after the E190 aircraft made its inaugural landing at the Providenciales International Airport on Thursday (November 19).

The airline, which is inching closer to its goal of 100 daily flights at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport within two years, launched its new daily service from the airport with a $99 special.

JetBlue’s inaugural flight to Providenciales saw 84 passengers on board.

The New York carrier simultaneously launched flights to Philadelphia, Charleston, SC, and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands with much fanfare.

All three flights departed Fort Lauderdale airport between 9am and noon.

Speaking during a press briefing held in the Providenciales International Airport’s lobby, general manager of JetBlue in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Winston Wright, said that the airline is both honoured and humbled to celebrate this new service.

"We are grateful to the community for its support which has been extremely positive so far.

"Day in and day out our crew members and business partners have demonstrated that every customer deserves outstanding service and convenient flight schedules.

"We are pleased to play our role in bringing more tourists to the shore of the Turks and Caicos Islands which in turn helps to grow the local business sector.

"At JetBlue we work closely with the Tourism Board to help grow tourism in Turks and Caicos Islands.

"This partnership between the Tourist Board and JetBlue has led to today’s new service.”

These services to Fort Lauderdale mark the third JetBlue focus city flight to Providenciales.

He noted that the airline currently offers flights to New York, JFK Airport and to Boston`s International airport and starting December 2015 will be adding a seasonal Sunday service to Boston as well.

Wright emphasised that the new service to Fort Lauderdale will provide Turks and Caicos Islanders with new access to Fort Lauderdale and its world class shopping and attractions as well as options to connect to other destinations within the United States and Latin America.

Chief executive officer of the Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority (TCIAA), John Smith, underscored the importance of JetBlue’s route expansion and its impact on the local tourism industry.

"We’re very welcoming of the new route because finally we’ve been able to deliver to the public something they’ve been asking for.

"We welcome JetBlue to our shores once again this time from Fort Lauderdale.”

Smith told the media that the flight was fully sold and passengers were elated to use the new route to visit the country.

"The response to the flight was extremely positive; one may use the word overwhelming.

"The send off from Fort Lauderdale was spectacular.

"We had the normal new route cannon salute from the fire services in Fort Lauderdale and a reciprocal one here in Providenciales.

"They were many people on the flight. I understand from JetBlue that the bookings were six, seven, eight months out and it was very, very positive.”

He noted that the positive reception could have spin off effects, which could potentially charter the way forward a bigger carrier or increasing the frequency.

Smith categorically stated that the TCIAA is not in any way subsidising this new flight route.

He said: "They would assist in marketing, marketing directly and marketing indirectly, that is what we have successfully to attract many other flights and it’s a formula that works.”

Tourist Board training manager Blythe Clare enthusiastically welcomed the JetBlue team to the island.

"On behalf of the Tourist Board, it is our pleasure to welcome the entire JetBlue team to the number one island to visit in the world, Providenciales, and the best Caribbean beach destination, Turks and Caicos.

"We would like to thank you for adding this new route here to our destination. Islanders are elated and we are delighted that you are here.

"Tourism in indeed the engine that drives our economy and we are grateful that visitors continue to patronize number one island in the world.”

According to JetBlue’s website, by the end of 2015 the carrier expects to have up to 95 flights daily at peak operations, to more than 40 destinations from Fort Lauderdale.

JetBlue is already the busiest carrier at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood with 21.7 percent of passengers through September, the latest airport data shows.

The airline also has four other new routes in the pipeline for 2016.