Jet Blue has announced it will serve Long Island MacArthur Airport, beginning in October.
It’s the first time that the New York-based airline will offer flights from the airport. Tickets are on sale now, with flights to Orlando International Airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Palm Beach International Airport. For a limited time, the airline is offering $49 one-way fares for flights on these new routes.
The service out of MacArthur, which is owned by the Town of Islip, is designed to complement the airline's existing operations out of John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.
"Long Island is an integral part of the New York Metro area, and we are excited to bring our award-winning service to customers in this community," Dave Jehn, JetBlue’s vice president of network planning and airline partnerships, said in a news release about serving MacArthur Airport.
"The addition of Long Island MacArthur Airport to our network will offer more options and greater convenience for customers, and we are proud to provide new opportunities for more Long Islanders to experience our unique combination of low fares and great service," Jehn said.
Airlines that serve Long Island MacArthur Airport include Southwest, Frontier Airlines and Breeze Airways.
“It’s no secret that Long Island loves JetBlue, for years residents have asked, and we’ve been listening," Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter said in the news release.
"As the town supervisor, I can say that we are thrilled to embark on this new partnership," she added. "We are committed to ensuring the success of our business partners at Long Island MacArthur Airport. Our airport is one of our region’s greatest economic assets, and JetBlue’s success at ISP will certainly enrich our community and beyond. Long Island cannot wait to open its doors to the visitors that will come to New York by way of ISP - Long Island’s hometown airport”
JetBlue’s presence at Long Island MacArthur Airport is expected to contribute to the local economy through job creation and increased tourism, according to the news release. JetBlue currently employs more than 8,800 crewmembers in the state of New York.
“We have all worked hard to ensure Long Island travelers have more choices for nonstop destinations," Shelley LaRose-Arken, Long Island MacArthur Airport commissioner, said in the news release.
"Our hometown airport is convenient, has efficient security lines, and provides an overall stress-free travel experience," she added. "Long Islanders have waited for New York’s hometown airline, JetBlue, for 24 years, and this is a great day for our community and MacArthur Airport.”
“More Long Islanders will be flying to and from MacArthur Airport now that JetBlue will soon begin flights from Islip to Orlando, Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. I have long encouraged JetBlue to start service at LI MacArthur because Long Islanders need increased travel options, and the success of the airport is key to a more vibrant Long Island economy,” U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, said in the news release.
“Under the stewardship of Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Airport Commissioner Shelley LaRose-Arken the airport has soared to greater heights, and I will continue working with them to secure federal funding to make improvements and attract even more service. I applaud JetBlue for their decision, and I will continue working with all stakeholders to build MacArthur Airport into a roaring economic engine and world-class transportation hub,” Schumer added.
The business community has long pushed for additional nonstop service to the airport. Back in 2021, the HIA-LI released an analysis that said that by adding more nonstop flights, the airport could more than double business air travel, generating more than $1 billion in new revenue each year.
And on Tuesday, Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association, said in a statement that “JetBlue is one of the nation’s most popular low-cost air carriers, and Long Island will most certainly see an economic shot in the arm from a surge in travelers at Long Island MacArthur Airport.
"I commend Supervisor Carpenter and the team at the airport for working tirelessly to bring this partnership to fruition,” he added.
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