JetBlue to mull Florida flights after Cleveland-Boston success

JetBlue Airways will be launching flights to Boston from Cleveland in April 2015. The airline has initiated the process of expansion in Cleveland and is aiming to extend its network to the Florida market.

Dave Clark, JetBlue Airways’ Vice President of Network Planning, was recently quoted by mediapersons as saying that the airline’s entry to the Florida market however largely depends on the success of the Cleveland-Boston route.

Clark said that if the route proves to be a resounding success then the carrier would like to extend the benefits of its cheap airfares to its customers in major cities of Florida such as Orlando, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, where it will be looking forward to launch its new services.

In recent months, Cleveland has remained in news with some of the major U.S. carriers making significant changes. United Airlines had earlier last year made some important changes in its Cleveland schedule. The airline said that it was curtailing its Cleveland hub with decreased frequencies to at least three Florida cities – Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers – from Cleveland. These routes are being served with nonstop flights by the airline.

Business leaders have also assured JetBlue Airways of huge support when the airline begins operations on its Cleveland-Boston route. They said that travel will become much easier with increased options than before.

Clark said that he is hopeful of the airline succeeding on the Cleveland-Boston route. He cited the example of Hartford, where the airline had already shown an appreciable growth by operating flights to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale since 2010. The success of the airline at Hartford will in fact become a potential model for Cleveland.