Gov. Maura Healey and other Bay State elected officials are celebrating new air service plans that will make it easier for people to get to and from Florida from central Massachusetts.
JetBlue and the Massachusetts Port Authority, which runs Worcester Regional Airport, announced plans Monday for new nonstop flights to Orlando and Fort Myers.
The daily year-round service to Orlando International Airport is scheduled to launch June 15 and winter seasonal service to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers is expected to start on Jan. 4, 2024. The Fort Myers route will initially launch with twice-weekly service, and will increase to daily service starting in mid-February through the end of spring training for the Boston Red Sox, who have their pre-season base in Fort Myers.
Fort Myers is a new route for JetBlue out of Worcester, while the airline is bringing back service to Orlando from Worcester.
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"We are proud to introduce even more options to connect our Massachusetts customers to the places they want to fly with more nonstop Florida service from Worcester," JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said.
JetBlue and Massport said the service means JetBlue out of Worcester will serve Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Fort Myers, "meeting the increased demand from customers in the Central Massachusetts region for additional Florida flights." They touted easy curbside dropoff and pickup options, and parking that costs $7 a day and $42 for a week, significantly lower than the costs of leaving a vehicle at Logan Airport in Boston.
"These new and returning JetBlue flights to Florida from Worcester Regional Airport are a great addition for passengers in Central Massachusetts," said Congressman James McGovern.
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Healey called Worcester Regional Airport is "an important economic asset for the entire state," and predicted the new routes "will help deliver even more growth and connectivity for our businesses and residents." She added, "I congratulate Massport and our federal, state, and city partners for securing this expansion with JetBlue and building on the economic and tourism benefits for Central Massachusetts."
