JetBlue, continuing to adjust its route network to increase focus on core markets, will increase its New England seat count by 20% next winter.
The increase will include the launch of service in Manchester, N.H., more flights out of Boston, and new routes from Providence, R.I.; Portland, Maine; and Presque Island, Maine.
Manchester-Boston Regional will be JetBlue's 10th New England airport. The carrier will launch with three Florida routes, including daily, year-round service to Orlando beginning Jan. 23. Thrice-weekly, seasonal flights to Fort Myers will also start Jan. 23, and seasonal Manchester-Fort Lauderdale service (four times per week) is set for a Jan. 24 launch.
JetBlue will compete with Southwest and Breeze Airways on the Manchester-Orlando route and with Breeze on Manchester-Fort Myers. It is slated to be the lone airline connecting Manchester with Fort Lauderdale, Cirium flight schedule data shows.
Breeze is a new entrant in Manchester this year. In the spring, Spirit suspended Manchester service, which included an Orlando flight.
JetBlue will begin three new Providence routes in late October. Daily seasonal service to Tampa will compete with Southwest and Breeze. Daily winter service to Fort Myers will compete with Breeze. JetBlue is slated to be the only carrier operating between Providence and San Juan, offering year-round, daily service. In total, JetBlue plans to triple its seat offering from Providence next winter.
The carrier will introduce thrice-weekly, year-round service between Presque Island and Boston on Sept. 5, while seasonal, thrice-weekly service between Portland and Orlando will start Oct. 28.
In Boston, where JetBlue is the largest operator, the carrier said it will increase frequencies for numerous markets in Florida and the Caribbean, including Barbados, Nassau, Punta Cana, St. Maarten, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Jacksonville, among others.
JetBlue also said it will increase its seat count this winter by 30% in Hartford, Conn.
"This growth not only demonstrates JetBlue's commitment to the region, but also exemplifies its plan to refocus the airline's network into leisure and visiting friends and relatives flying," the carrier said.
JetBlue added that it will reduce flying on underperforming routes across its network, with a focus on improving reliability.
The shift toward New England is part of a broader network revision that JetBlue hopes will help it turn around losses.