Above: a JetBlue plane

By the Caribbean Journal staff

JetBlue is expanding its service to Barbados, the New York City-based carrier announced Wednesday.

The company will be serving the New York-Bridgetown flight with an Airbus A321, meaning an additional 580 seats per week each way.

“The people of Barbados and those who love to visit the island nation for work or pleasure can continue to rely on JetBlue for great service at a competitive fare,” said Robin Hayes, JetBlue’s chief commercial officer. “We have been warmly welcomed by the Barbadian community ever since we started service in 2009, and it is our honor to continue to meet the travel needs of this community.”
The new service will begin Dec. 19, according to the company, which said it has filed to offer more capacity during peak holiday times like President’s Day and Easter as well, subject to government approval.

“JetBlue has been a trusted partner to Barbados since 2009, moving large numbers of visitors and members of the diaspora to our beautiful island!” said Adrian Elcock, Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Authority, in a statement. “We are extremely excited to have reached an agreement with JetBlue to significantly increase their capacity to Barbados and we will continue to work aggressively with the expansive JetBlue network as part of our greater strategy of securing more arrivals from the United States.”

JetBlue said that the aircraft would be “fresh from the Airbus factory,” although they would not have Live television programme available initially. That cannot be installed until the A321 receives “supplemental type certificates” from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Customers on flights without the service will receive a $15 travel certificate valid for one year, however, JetBlue said.