Quantcast

JetBlue to expand at JFK, initiate LaGuardia service

By Philip Newman

Forest Hills-based airline JetBlue has announced plans to begin flying out of LaGuardia Airport for the first time and to expand service from John F. Kennedy International Airport for the summer travel season.

JetBlue said it now intends to start its first service from LaGuardia by late summer, although the first destination has yet to be announced. The airline was founded a little more than years ago at JFK, where it leads all airlines in numbers of passengers.

JetBlue also reported that it has received U.S. government permission to begin service to the Dominican Republic and, assuming similar approval by the Caribbean nation’s government, will start flights May 4.

The airline said it planned to add a second daily flight from JFK to New Orleans on April 22, a second daily flight to Denver, a fifth daily flight to Rochester and a sixth and seventh daily flight to Buffalo, all on May 4.

“After serving Denver for three years, we're pleased to add daytime service to New York to complement our current red-eye flights to both JFK and Boston,” said David Neeleman, Jetblue chairman. “Additional flights between New York and New Orleans, Rochester and Buffalo will also increase our customer summer travel options this year, especially with our plans for new Caribbean service to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.”

JetBlue said it plans to start twice daily flights from JFK to Santiago, Dominican Republic on June 10 and a daily flight to Santo Domingo on June 17.

The airline said it would offer an introductory fare of $119 each way when booked at www.jetblue.com. The fares will require an advance seven-day purchase.

JetBlue said Terminal 4 at JFK would serve as its international arrivals terminal as the carrier’s Terminal 6 home base has no customs and immigration facilities. Passengers will still depart from Terminal 6 but arrive from the Dominican Republic at Terminal 4.

Reach contributing writer Philip Newman by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 136.