Above: a JetBlue plane

By the Caribbean Journal staff

JetBlue has officially launched service from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Nassau, Bahamas.

The service, which began late last month, is part of a wider expansion at the Washington-based airport. The daily nonstop flights depart Washington at around 10:59 AM local time.

The addition of the route, which was joined by several new domestic flights, comes after the allocation of 12 slot pairs to JetBlue by the US Department of Justice following divestitures resulting from the American Airlines-US Airways merger.

“JetBlue’s first flight from Reagan National was only four years ago, but since then, with our award-winning customer service, we have quickly grown to offer customers 24 daily flights, including the only nonstop to San Juan, Puerto Rico,” said Rob Land, JetBlue’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Associate General Counsel. “By the end of this year we will have up to 30 daily nonstop flights. Reagan National Airport, traditionally known as a high fare airport, has greatly benefited from the JetBlue effect, as our new service has resulted in a significant reduction in fares in the markets we serve and substantial increase in travelers.”

JetBlue has been on a major expansion push in the Caribbean region over the last several years.