It’s been a big start to November for JetBlue, which just added two more nonstop routes to the Caribbean this week.
The carrier is now operating nonstop service from Orlando to two destinations in the Dominican Republic: Punta Cana and Santiago.
Both flights are now operating daily, Dominican Republic tourism officials confirmed.
They are two very different destinations: Punta Cana is the Dominican Republic’s tourism capital, anchored by Bavaro Beach and home to scores of all-inclusive resorts, golf courses and attractions like the new Katmandu theme park.
Santiago, the short form of Santiago de los Caballeros, is an up-and-coming destination, the epicenter of the country’s rum and cigar industries.
It’s part of what JetBlue says will be a broader expansion in Orlando as part of its merger with ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, which has long had a signifiant presence in Orlando, particularly to the Caribbean.
Orlando has become an increasingly important source market for Caribbean travel, with more and more carriers increasing their positions in the city (including Southwest Airlines, which just announced an Orlando expansion of its own last week).
The new flights are yet another boost for the blazing tourism numbers currently being experienced by the Dominican Republic, which continues to break arrival records seemingly every month.
Indeed, the Dominican Republic is on pace for the most tourist arrivals of any year in the country’s history.
JetBlue’s launches of Orlando-Punta Cana and Orlando-Santiago came after JetBlue just launched new nonstop routes between New York and St Kitts and between Los Angeles and Nassau, the latter the company’s first-ever flight between Los Angeles and the Caribbean.