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Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (second left) assists Rob Maruster, senior vice-president of customer services, JetBlue Airways, to cut the ribbon at a ceremony to celebrate the airline's inaugural flight to Montego Bay at the Sangster International Airport last Thursday. JetBlue now offers daily service between New York and Montego Bay. Looking on are JetBlue staff Diana O'Gilvie (third left); Paul Whyte (fourth left); Austin Williams (fifth left), a Jamaican first officer with JetBlue; John Lynch (third right), director of tourism; Wayne Cummings (partly hidden), president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, and Carrole Guntley (first right), director general in the Ministry of Tourism. See related story in today's Hospitality Jamaica. - Photo by Noel Thompson

WESTERN BUREAU:

United States-based JetBlue Airways will in October begin a non-stop service between Kingston and New York.

The announcement was made by Rob Maruster, JetBlue's senior vice-president of customer services, after the airline made its inaugural non-stop flight to Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, last Thursday, making the route its 11th Caribbean destination and the 55th city served by the carrier.

"We have never opened a second gateway in any country in such a short time," Maruster said of the Kingston-New York development. "This speaks not only to the investment that JetBlue sees as necessary to make a market like this successful, but also the promise to hold our future together."

Maruster also said the airline's John F. Kennedy Airport-New York to Montego Bay route has been very successful.

"Our chief commercial officer has informed me that the inaugural trip, and for the month of June, Montego Bay was the most successful inaugural launch JetBlue had ever seen in its history," Maruster said to resounding applause.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, Director of Tourism John Lynch and Wayne Cummings, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), were among the passengers who flew into the friendly city on JetBlue, served by four Jamaican-born flight attendants.

A great marriage

"JetBlue and Jamaica have become one ... a great marriage has been consummated," the minister added. "This is perhaps the most important moment for Destination Jamaica in building an infrastructure for airlift security. It is the key strategy of the current administration to undertake two key things - drive marketing and ensuring there is connectivity between Jamaica and other destinations."

Maruster said JetBlue was also offering introductory fares between Montego Bay and New York. The average fare will be reduced by up to 20 per cent as JetBlue settles in the market, said Maruster.

Cummings emphasised that New York was one of Jamaica's most important gateways.

"We are proud to add another carrier to our roster of carriers to the island. We will be able to recognise the linkages that JetBlue will bring to us," said Cummings.

Meanwhile, Bartlett said discussions were being held between a major South American tour operator with a view of commencing direct flight into Montego Bay out of Ecuador and Lima, Peru, by June 30.

noel.thompson@gleanerjm.com