Daily JetBlue flights
likely from January
PHILIPSBURG--JetBlue is expected to be the next low-cost carrier to service St. Maarten from the United States. According to information for the tourism stakeholder, negotiations about the daily service from New York are in the final stages.
Once negotiations are concluded successfully, the daily direct service should start on January 17, giving the island its first low-cost carrier for the New York area. Cost for a round trip ticket is expected to be about US $350.
The Daily Herald learnt that an official announcement of the new service could come as early as Thursday. Talks with the airline have been ongoing for some time now, but partners involved have been reluctant to reveal details until solid decisions are made, due to the “delicate nature of the talks.”
One important point of the negotiations was marketing funds for the flights. The island is expected to contribute to a joint marketing venture to help fill seats and strengthen the flights.
Attracting low cost carriers has been a goal of Commissioner Roy Marlin, who just completed his first 100 days with his new portfolios of Tourism and Finance.
In a speech delivered at the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) quarterly meeting on September 26, Marlin said, “As the success of low-cost, low-fare carriers expands, and as major airlines continue to both respond to the challenge and operate profitably – as they are doing – St. Maarten-bound travellers will benefit from this competition through increased service and lower fares.”
Pointing to JetBlue, he said Aruba had attracted that carrier a year ago and had seen fares to the destination become competitive and seating capacity increase. JetBlue’s service to Aruba has grown over the year with a second daily flight added to the schedule. “Why can’t St. Maarten do the same? Our destination is similar, or even better than Aruba.”
Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines began thrice-weekly service from Fort Lauderdale to St. Maarten in April, becoming the first major US low-cost carrier to fly here.
Regionally, the Caribbean’s first low-cost carrier LIAT has daily flights here with links throughout the Caribbean.
