JetBlue Is Launching Two New Nonstop Flights to Puerto Rico

By Caribbean Journal Staff

Since 2020, Puerto Rico has been one of the hottest destinations for new airlift in the Americas.

And that trend is continuing, as visitors continue to flock to the island.

New York City-based JetBlue has announced plans to add another two nonstop routes to Puerto Rico: year-round service between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and San Juan; and between Tampa, Fla. and Aguadilla.

The flights, which launch this summer, are already out for sale.

“As the largest airline in Puerto Rico, we are thrilled to continue diversifying our network and to further grow JetBlue’s presence on the island with the addition of these two new routes,” said Robin Hayes, chief executive officer, JetBlue. “This growth will increase competition and choice for customers traveling to and from Puerto Rico and for travelers in Raleigh and Tampa, while also building on our commitment to support tourism on the island and connect family and friends.”

It’s always been one of the best golf resorts in Puerto Rico. Now, the Wyndham Palmas resort has a bigger ambition: to be one of the island’s best resorts, period. The new-look Wyndham Palmas will be reopening its doors this May following a “dramatic” transformation, Caribbean Journal has learned. The Wyndham Palmas Beach and Golf Resort is set to complete its renovation and reopen on May 18, 2023. The multimillion-dollar renovation comes after the resort was acquired by LionGrove last year, and covers everything from the rooms to a significant new culinary concept. (LionGrove also owns the El San Juan resort property in Isla Verde.) So what’s changed? All of the hotel’s 107 rooms and suites got a new look, with new amenities and a “boho chic” aesthetic. The resort also transformed its lobby into a “modern and trendy” space, according to the company, with sweeping ceilings and larger windows. Other additions include new landscaping, a cigar lounge and upgraded event space. The hotel will also be debuting a new eatery called Trova Coastal Kitchen, the brainchild of Top Chef competitors and celebrity chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth, in a concept helmed by Chef Julio Cartagena. "Chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth are true culinary masters, and their numerous accolades and awards are a testament to their exceptional talent and dedication. We invite you to experience the world-renowned cuisine and impeccable service of Trova Coastal Kitchen, led by our own local chef Julio Cartagena," says Chris Sariego, Senior Managing Director and COO of LionGrove. The hotel is set in the Palmas Del Mar community in Puerto Rico, anchored by a pair of world-class golf courses: one designed by Gary Player, the other by Rees Jones. For more, visit the Wyndham Palmas Puerto Rico. — The Wyndham Palmas resort in Puerto Rico.

JetBlue operates 35 departures per day to Puerto Rico out of 12 different cities in the United States and the Caribbean; the airline has been flying to Puerto Rico for 21 years.

Raleigh in particular is an increasingly important market for the Caribbean, following last year’s launch of flights on Bahamasair between Raleigh-Durham and Grand Bahama.

“The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is thrilled to announce along with our partner, JetBlue, the incorporation of these new routes. The expanded network connects two of Puerto Rico’s main airports to key markets in the continental United States providing travelers with even more options to explore and enjoy the diversity available on the island. We value the longstanding alliance between the Government of Puerto Rico and JetBlue, and look forward to continue providing excellence in the visitor experience, and increasing Tourism’s contribution to local economies”, said, Carlos Mercado Santiago, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

puerto rico aguadilla resort — A resort i Aguadilla.

The new flights are the result of JetBlue’s combination with Spirit Airlines, which the carrier said would “unlock long-term growth opportunities in Puerto Rico that would not be otherwise possible, offering more options for customers traveling to and from the island.”

“We look forward to delivering even more of the much-loved JetBlue experience – with our unique combination of low fares and award-winning service – to our customers traveling between Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland following the successful completion of our combination with Spirit,” Hayes said.

JetBlue isn’t alone in its expansion in Puerto Rico. Low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines has been on an even bigger expansion push to Puerto Rico since the pandemic, adding more flights to the island than any other airline.

News