JetBlue To Provide Winter Service To Boston
“I am pleased to announce that our long-time airline partner JetBlue will provide direct winter service” between Boston and Bermuda, Minister of Transport Wayne Furbert said.
Speaking in the House of Assembly today [Feb 24] the Minister said, “JetBlue’s new winter schedule will include four round-trip flights per week between Boston and Bermuda, commencing November 2023 and running through to March 2024; JetBlue will resume its regular daily summer schedule starting early May.
“JetBlue’s year-round services to Boston will complement its existing services between New York [John F. Kennedy International] and Bermuda, and the recently announced JetBlue’s new, daily seasonal service between New York [LaGuardia] and Bermuda starting in May 2023.
The Minister added, “Air service development is a priority. We will continue working with our air service development team to engage all our airline partners as we rebuild Bermuda’s air service connections.”
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr Speaker, last year November, following my appointment as the Transport Minister, I stated my three high priorities; they were number one -air service development, number two- air service development and number three- air service development. Based on that I am sure most of you can guess what my number 4 priority is.
Increasing air service and securing airlift during the winter is of significant importance to the residents and visitors alike.
Mr Speaker, today, I am pleased to announce that our long-time airline partner JetBlue will provide direct winter service between Boston’s Logan International Airport and Bermuda’s LF Wade International Airport.
The announcement today is a direct result of months of discussions led by the Ministry of Transport, with assistance from the Bermuda Airport Authority, our partners, the Bermuda Tourism Authority, and Bermuda Skyport Corporation Ltd.
JetBlue’s new winter schedule will include four round-trip flights per week between Boston and Bermuda, commencing November 2023 and running through to March 2024; JetBlue will resume its regular daily summer schedule starting early May. JetBlue’s year-round services to Boston will complement its existing services between New York [John F. Kennedy International] and Bermuda, and the recently announced JetBlue’s new, daily seasonal service between New York [LaGuardia] and Bermuda starting in May 2023.
Mr Speaker, a sustained year-round service between Boston and Bermuda has been a high priority for this Government, both as a service to Bermudians and our visitors. Many Bermudians benefit from Boston’s array of services and amenities, such as medical treatment centres. It also cannot be overstated the importance of Boston as a key Bermuda tourism market, second only to New York City in the number of visitors it brings to Bermuda.
Bermuda will also benefit from increased services from these gateway cities:
- United Airlines’ service from Newark is scheduled to start in March 2023.
- British Airways’ daily service between Bermuda and Heathrow to commence in April.
- West Jet’s increased service to Toronto
Mr Speaker, by no means is our work complete. As I stated recently, we were shocked to learn of American’s decision to suspend their Miami route this summer. We understand the challenges airlines are having, and that global air service is down 70%. However, we will not let up, and will not let go to increase even more Air Services to Bermuda. We will continue to pursue meetings with American and other airlines to increase service to Bermuda.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Executive team at Jet Blue for believing in Bermuda. The Team and I had a great meeting, as they invited us into their headquarters.
I am confident that the Minister of Tourism with the Bermuda Tourism Authority will do the appropriate marketing to get the required Tourism numbers for the different seasons.
As I stated, air service development is a priority. We will continue working with our air service development team to engage all our airline partners as we rebuild Bermuda’s air service connections.
Mr. Speaker, I will never say it will be an easy task to increase the airline service. But, because it is important to Bermuda, and although the odds may be against us sometimes, but as the good book says, I will continue to walk by faith and not by sight. People who walk by faith don’t see obstacles; they see opportunities.
Mr. Speaker
Thank you.
Why is former UBP leader Wayne Furbert making this announcement instead of JetBlue?
I I I Me Me Me + road paving = Election. ????
Maybe because the UBP was the best party in history when compared 2 the 5 in the OBA lol. # 6 is getting ready for his walking papers since the circus is done with him.
Why winter? Bermuda’s tourist season is the summer. Has the BTA found a way to open Bermuda’s first ski resort?
Get the Miami flights back on too. The times I’ve taken it, AA has to ask people to give up their seats as the flight is overbooked, so load factor can’t be the problem.
Probably because summer wasn’t the issue to Boston. JetBlue is already scheduled for daily flights from May through November. The issue was winter and that has been resolved.
It’s not just tourists on the flights. Bermudians travel as well. For example, many Bermudians travel to Boston for the medical facilities. For me, I have family in the US that I’ve visited for Christmas and a direct flight to Boston is preferred.
This is good news but what’s the catch?
Are taxpayers subsidizing this? JetBlue wouldn’t fly here if it wasn’t financially beneficial to them so what happened that this is now a money making flight for them?
This is news?
It will be almost another year and who the hell flies from Boston in the winter.
Oh….and for Mr. Furbert it’s all about him and notoriety.
This is great news!
Great news for college students and locals needing to travel to and from the US. For tourists, also great news. Sadly, airfares right now are prohibitive for many.
An update, airfares are 1700 pp for many dates in Nov. Most will choose the Caribbean over BDA for those prices.
Flights FROM Boston to Bermuda costs either $262, $281, $301, $681 or $811 depending on when you want to fly.
A typical return flight will costs $694 (basic) or $764 (Blue) for most of November 2023 if you book now.