JetBlue Airways has announced an expansion of its routes in Florida and an increase in international connections this winter, despite acknowledging the challenges of reaching an operational breakeven by 2025. This move highlights JetBlue's growth strategy amid ongoing financial struggles.
Starting in December, JetBlue will offer daily flights from Boston and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to Vero Beach, marking its debut in that destination. The airline will also resume service to Daytona Beach, a route it hasn't operated for nearly seven years. Additionally, JetBlue will introduce seasonal flights from Long Island's MacArthur Airport to Tampa and Fort Myers, running from mid-December until the end of April 2026, as reported by Fox News.
On the international front, new daily flights will connect Tampa to Punta Cana, and a seasonal service will link Fort Lauderdale to Santiago de los Caballeros, both located in the Dominican Republic. In December, JetBlue will also launch routes from Boston to St. Thomas, Liberia in Costa Rica, St. Maarten, and Nassau in the Bahamas. Moreover, the frequency of Saturday flights to Grand Cayman and Bridgetown in Barbados will increase to two.
Flights from Vero Beach are set to begin on December 11 with promotional fares starting at $69, available for booking until August 17, 2026. Vero Beach's airport, which served 86,000 passengers in 2023, saw a significant increase in traffic, surpassing 177,000 travelers last year, according to WPTV.
Despite these expansion efforts, JetBlue's CEO Joanna Geraghty conceded earlier this year that achieving an operational breakeven by 2025 remains a challenge amid financial pressures. She noted that while demand may improve, it will not fully offset accumulated losses, and returning to profitability will take longer than expected.
In June, JetBlue announced it would cease all services to Miami International Airport (MIA) starting September 2, as part of a broader strategic adjustment. The airline's only remaining route at MIA—a decreasingly frequent flight to Boston—has been removed from sale, effectively ending JetBlue's presence in Miami just four years after its debut.
Additionally, JetBlue will suspend all flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) from late October 2025 to April 2026, concluding a transcontinental link that had been promising for the winter season.
"In recent months, economic uncertainty has shaken consumer confidence and softened travel demand, affecting our plans for the year. While most airlines are feeling the impact, it is particularly frustrating for us, as we had hoped to achieve an operational breakeven this year, which now seems unlikely," stated an official communication from JetBlue to its crew members.
JetBlue has not been profitable since 2019, despite prior plans to revamp its business strategy and pursue high-performing partnerships, including a now-defunct agreement with American Airlines (AA).
JetBlue Expansion and Operational Challenges
When will JetBlue's new routes from Vero Beach begin?
JetBlue's new routes from Vero Beach are scheduled to start on December 11, with promotional fares available for booking until August 17, 2026.
Why is JetBlue ceasing operations at Miami International Airport?
JetBlue is stopping operations at Miami International Airport as part of a broader strategic realignment, with the decision to remove its only remaining route to Boston, effectively ending its presence at MIA.
What are the new international routes JetBlue is adding from Florida?
JetBlue is introducing new daily flights from Tampa to Punta Cana and a seasonal service from Fort Lauderdale to Santiago de los Caballeros, both in the Dominican Republic.