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JetBlue to increase flights to Jamaica next year |
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JetBlue Airways has announced plans to launch twice daily nonstop flights between Kingston and Fort Lauderdale, Florida from April 30, 2012.
The New York-based carrier said the new service wil complement its existing daily flights from Kingston to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said this decision points to Jamaica's stability for investment in the tourism trade.
Minister Bartlett revealed that JetBlue is by far the fastest growing airline in the country, as its market share has increased from two percent at the end of its first year in operation to around 10 percent at present.
“JetBlue's expansion in Jamaica puts our country in good stead to have a robust summer in 2012,” the minister said.
“We are already anticipating a strong 2011/2012 Winter Tourist Season with some 1,044,137 air seats already secured, which represents a 5.6 percent increase over 2010, and a 4.7 percent increase over the 2011 winter season.”
Approximately 1.35 million visitors are projected to arrive here during the winter season.
JetBlue made its inaugural flight to Sangster International Airport from JFK International in May 2009.
The airline expanded its service later that year when it introduced the New York to Kingston route.
Next year’s Fort Lauderdale service will be operated by JetBlue's Embraer E190 aircraft as well as the 150-seat Airbus A320.
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