For the first time ever, JetBlue is now flying to the French Caribbean. 

The New York City-based carrier officially kicked off its new nonstop flights to Guadeloupe this weekend, with thrice-weekly service out of New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. 

The new flights also represent the only scheduled service from the northeastern United States to the French Caribbean. 

“As we advance our targeted focus city build-out plans, Guadeloupe allows us to diversify our route map and introduce JetBlue customers to this unique island destination,” said Andrea Lusso, director route planning, JetBlue. “At the same time, we are solidifying our leading position in the Caribbean with the only service between the French Caribbean island and the northeast.”

JetBlue will be operating the flights on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays for the winter tourist season. 

“We could not be more thrilled about the new nonstop air service with JetBlue to Pointe-à-Pître,” said Ary Chalus, President of the Regional Council of Guadeloupe. “As the leading airline in the Caribbean Region, JetBlue is the ideal partner and both of our teams are dedicated to the success of the route.”

JetBlue is running the flights on Airbus A320 aircraft, though it will not for now be including its premium Mint cabin service, something the company has begun rolling out on a host of Caribbean routes. It’s a significant boost for an Eastern Caribbean archipelago that, despite its vast, diverse tourism offering, still remains largely a mystery for most American travelers. 

The new flights will help tourists discovers its unique charms, from an impressive culinary culture to one of the Caribbean’s great rum destinations to Les Saintes, acharming getaway that’s often dubbed a “mini St Barth.”

The new flights come as Guadeloupe’s most popular destination, the island of Grande-Terre, has seen a massive renovation of its signature Club Med resort, along with a rise to five-star status by the La Toubana boutique hotel. 

It all means that Guadeloupe is in the midst of an exciting tourism push — and that JetBlue continue to set its sights on the Eastern Caribbean in a big way.

“We are delighted we were able to maintain a connection between New York and Pointe-à-Pître as this route is crucial for the development of our archipelago, said Alain Bièvre, Chairman of the Board of Guadeloupe’s Pôle Caraibe Airport, which is itself planning a series of expansion projects “We are convinced that American travelers will leave Guadeloupe with lifetime memories and come back again and again.”

‚— CJ