JetBlue’s latest announcement puts it in direct competition with Spirit Airlines on 16 out of the 18 new or expanded routes. Spirit Airlines is currently undergoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings for the second time within a year and has started reducing its flight schedule. JetBlue did not directly address Spirit in its statement but emphasized its position at Fort Lauderdale.
"As the top airline in Fort Lauderdale, with more departures than any other carrier on peak travel days, JetBlue is proud to keep raising the bar for customers in South Florida," said Dave Jehn, JetBlue's vice president of network planning and airline partnerships.
Among the newly detailed routes are:
- FLL to Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (CLO) near Cali, Colombia (launch date not yet announced)
- FLL to Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA), starting Dec. 4
- FLL to Cartagena's Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG), starting Dec. 4
- FLL to Grand Cayman's Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM), starting Dec. 4
- FLL to Liberia’s Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Costa Rica, daily service beginning Dec. 4
- FLL to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), twice daily beginning Nov. 1
- FLL to Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), daily service beginning Nov. 1
- FLL to Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, four times weekly starting Dec. 4
- FLL to Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) in St. Maarten, four times weekly beginning Dec. 4
Additionally, JetBlue will increase frequencies on flights between Fort Lauderdale and nine other cities: Atlanta; Boston; Cancun; Hartford; Kingston; Punta Cana; San Jose; San Juan; and Santiago de los Caballeros.
All these flights can be booked using JetBlue’s TrueBlue points program or by transferring points from major credit card rewards programs such as Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards.
Earlier this year, JetBlue entered into a partnership with Brightline rail services that enables passengers booking air-and-rail connections within Florida.