Jetblue announced a new non-layover service between Orlando International Airport (MCO), scheduled to debut in November 2023, with flights from Orlando to Punta Cana and Santiago, Dominican Republic. Tickets are already on sale and prices start from US$ 123. Once the service begins, Jetblue will become the only airline to serve Santiago with a service with no layover from Orlando. The new flights that connect Orlando with the Dominican Republic will offer Florida customers more options for pleasure trips and encourage the important presence of the airline in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“Punta Cana and Santiago are the main destinations of the Caribbean, but there are limited options for customers to get there from Orlando,” said David Jehn, Vice President of Network Planning and Jetblue associations. In addition, he added that “these new routes, which will also enable our combination with Spirit, will position us to provide even more growth and connectivity to popular destinations for customers in Central Florida.” After its planned combination with Spirit Airlines, the airline hopes to reach 200 daily flights from Orlando by 2027. Jetblue would offer flights to approximately 20 markets that currently do not attend to either of the two airlines from Orlando and increase the flight frequencies on about 25 additional routes.
The airline estimates that its plan would add approximately 350 new jobs in the airports in Orlando while supporting greater economic activity throughout the region that is anticipated to lead to a greater growth of employment.