JetBlue Adds Service to Turks and Caicos

JetBlue announced today it will begin service to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, from Boston and New York City (JFK). Flights will operate seasonally from November to April, though service won’t begin until February 17 from New York and February 19 from Boston. That’s President’s Day weekend, if you don’t have a calendar handy. JetBlue will fly daily from New York, and Saturdays only from Boston. No word yet on fares.

Providenciales is JetBlue’s 64th destination overall and its 17th in the Caribbean.

As for Turks and Caicos, service from the U.S. is limited to just a few carriers. American flies from Boston, New York, and Miami, through which it funnels much of its connecting service. US Airways flies from Charlotte and Philadelphia, Delta from Atlanta, and Spirit from Ft. Lauderdale, with each airline offering connections through those cities.

JetBlue’s entry should bring some healthy competition to the Turks and Caicos market. It will be competing mostly with American, since only American serves the direct routes JetBlue will fly, but JetBlue will pull travelers from throughout its route network. The carrier will fly from Boston less frequently than American, which operates Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but will match American’s daily service from JFK.

JetBlue has been on a new route roll lately, adding Turks and Caicos and Newark in the past week or so, and starting previously announced service between Boston and Phoenix.