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Vero Beach Regional Airport officials have expressed concern after JetBlue Airways announced new service to the Florida airport, citing federal law that allows airlines to operate at any U.S. airport without local approval. The move is expected to increase passenger numbers at Vero Beach, potentially affecting the airport's eligibility for state funding.
Historically, Vero Beach Regional Airport was not classified as a commercial facility and received up to 80% matching grants from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). This arrangement was based on the airport serving fewer than 10,000 passengers annually. When Breeze Airways began operating flights from Vero Beach, passenger numbers surpassed this threshold. In response, the city mayor successfully appealed for an increase in the grant cap, allowing continued eligibility for higher grants as long as annual passengers remained under 100,000.
The introduction of JetBlue's service could push annual passenger traffic above this limit. If that happens, FDOT support would drop from 80% to 50%, reducing financial assistance available to the airport.
