Carrier JetBlue has announced a new service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Tallahassee International Airport.
The route will not open until January 2024, although JetBlue said it "expects to reach more than 250 flights a day at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood by 2027".
“As a customer-centric alternative to the high-fare legacy airline that dominates South Florida, we have achieved rapid growth in Fort Lauderdale and are ready to turbocharge further expansion once we combine with Spirit,” said Robin Hayes, JetBlue's chief executive, claiming his airline is "uniquely positioned to challenge the big four airlines and boost competition in Florida and across the country".
JetBlue's merger with Spirit Airlines, if it goes ahead, could potentially create an airline of the scale needed to turn the so-called big four into a big five.
“We commend JetBlue for expanding and providing more direct flights between the capital and South Florida,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. “These new low-fare flights will further benefit Florida’s thriving economy by bringing more jobs to our communities, and adding more choices for affordable air travel within the state," said DeSantis, widely seen as the likeliest challenger to Donald Trump for the Republican presidential election nomination in 2024.