New JetBlue Flights Are Driving Big Growth on This Caribbean Island 

Whether it’s the food (including the Caribbean’s number one restaurant last year) or the diving or the adventure, Bonaire has always been one of the coolest places to visit in the Caribbean — but getting there is not always easy. Daily service has been rare, even on major carriers like American Airlines and United, and a combination of high flight prices and sporadic schedules have made it, well, a challenge. 

But Bonaire just got a huge boost from its newest air carrier: JetBlue, which kicked off its first-ever New York-Bonaire service on Nov. 10 and is already making a massive impact to the island’s tourism industry.

The island reported 16,626 visitors in November — a 19.5 percent jump over the same month in 2023. That represented one of the best-performing Novembers of any destination in the Caribbean this year. 

The best sign for the island is that all this growth came with just two-thirds of the month with JetBlue. It should portend a very strong December with a full month of New York flights under its belt. 

Right now, JetBlue is flying the route three times per month, with service on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. What about prices? Flights this month are as low as $505.24 in JetBlue’s Blue Basic fare (the no-frills option, which includes just a carry-on). 

In other good news for the island, its excellent Delfins Beach Resort (a resort we’ve stayed at several times and strongly recommend) will be transformed into a Hilton — a Tapestry Collection by Hilton resort, to be exact. 

That should be another boon for the island, with the expected increase in visitors thanks to Hilton’s broad marketing and loyalty network — which should also help fill all those JetBlue seats. 

If the early returns are any indication, we could be seeing far more than thrice-weekly JetBlue flights in the near to medium term. Is Fort Lauderdale-Bonaire next? We sure hope so. 

Are you planning a vacation to Bonaire? The island has an impressive collection of smaller, mostly boutique hotels, many with residential style (that is, kitchens or kitchenettes) configurations. Some of the hotels we’ve stayed in lately and loved? The adults-only Bamboo Bonaire, a funky, wellness-driven hotel with some particularly lovely bungalow-style rooms with private plunge pools in the patios. Rooms from $207.20 If you’re looking for the island’s luxury option, it’s the Harbour Village Beach Club, home to arguably the best beach in Bonaire and a unique, serene ambience. It’s usually our top choice when we stay on the island. Rooms from $468.