JetBlue senior leadership joined Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip), Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken, and business and community leaders from across Long Island, to celebrate JetBlue’s announcement of nonstop air service from Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) to three popular destinations.
Beginning in October, JetBlue will operate daily service between ISP and Orlando (MCO), and four times weekly between ISP and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Palm Beach (PBI). All routes will feature JetBlue’s Airbus A320 aircraft, including 162 seats with 42 Even More® Space seats. To celebrate today’s launch, and for a limited time, travelers can take advantage of special $49 one-way fares for flights between ISP and these Florida destinations, available online only on jetblue.com.
“Our airport customers across Long Island have been expressing their clear enthusiasm for more air service at ISP, and JetBlue is consistently one of the most frequent requests,” said Supervisor Carpenter. We’ve been listening and working very hard to bring additional options to Long Island. Today’s announcement reflects our determination and active outreach as JetBlue will now serve Islip’s Long Island MacArthur Airport initially with three Florida destinations that the carrier carefully selected.”
“As New York’s Hometown Airline®, we are thrilled to bring JetBlue’s award-winning service to Long Island MacArthur Airport,” said Dave Jehn, Vice President, Network Planning and Airline Partnerships, JetBlue. “Our decision to add nonstop flights to three popular Florida destinations is a testament to our commitment to providing customers with more convenient travel options to and from the places they most want to go.”
“We are energized by this exciting move by JetBlue to serve Long Island MacArthur Airport,” said Mitch Pally, Airport Advisory Board Chairman. “We know Long Islanders love traveling between Florida and Long Island, and JetBlue’s decision to provide more service to three top Florida destinations reflects that opportunity.”
The JetBlue announcement caps a strong spring for Long Island MacArthur Airport. For the month of April, 2024, versus April, 2023, ISP’s air carriers increased domestic seats by 22.7%, nearly four times the U.S. domestic average of 6.3%, and more than any other commercial airport (small hub or larger) in New York and New England. (Source: OAG)
“Long Island MacArthur Airport strives to provide excellent working relationships with our air carriers, low landing fees, and significant taxi time savings. Airlines are recognizing ISP as a distinct and highly desirable airport to serve New York, and customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties more and more are seeing the benefits of flying from Long Island’s convenient hometown airport,” said Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken. “These relationships and passenger preferences will become even more important in the years ahead, as we continue discussions in the community about a North Terminal providing true train-to-plane convenience from the LIRR Ronkonkoma / MacArthur Airport Station.”
Long Island Association President Matt Cohen agrees and commends the airport’s job creation, business leadership, and commitment to the community.
“MacArthur Airport continues to be a dynamic economic generator for all of Long Island, and the arrival of JetBlue just increases that important role in the future. LIA joins Long Island MacArthur Airport in welcoming this popular airline,” said Cohen.
MacArthur Airport has completed over $100 million in planning and capital projects since 2016, including the rehabilitation of airfield taxiway and runway surfaces, a Ground Transportation Center and Walkway, a Fire Rescue Building, and is nearing completion on significant Mechanical Engineering and Plumbing capital improvements.
“These projects position the airport to be ready to welcome new carriers like JetBlue and serve our other three existing airlines and loyal customers across Long Island,” said Airport Deputy Commissioner Rob Schneider.
JetBlue – currently the sixth largest airline in the U.S. and the only major passenger airline based in New York – is known for having the most legroom in coach, live television and on-demand entertainment on every seatback, free and fast Fly-Fi broadband Internet, complimentary snacks and soft drinks, and great customer service. From bold tailfin patterns, colorful and bright special liveries to unique plane names, customers can look forward to spotting more blue at ISP.
“Today is a ‘blue-tiful’ day for our airport customers and for Long Island,” Carpenter added.
About JetBlue
JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando and San Juan. JetBlue, known for its low fares and great service, carries customers to more than 100 destinations throughout the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and Europe. For more information and the best fares, visit jetblue.com.
About Long Island MacArthur Airport
MacArthur Airport is located on Long Island, approximately 50 miles from New York City. It is the closest airport to 2.8 million Long Island residents, and to world-renowned attractions including the famous Hamptons, Wine Country, lighthouses, Fire Island, excellent theatre, award-winning restaurants, and Gatsby-era mansions. The Town of Islip owns and operates the airport, served by Breeze Airways, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue and Southwest Airlines. Access to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) makes getting around Nassau and Suffolk counties convenient. Train service from the Ronkonkoma / MacArthur Airport LIRR to New York City provides frequent transport. Long Island MacArthur Airport employs 6000 people directly and indirectly, with a $16M annual operating budget and an economic impact of $600M to the region and local economy.
