JetBlue has added a new non-stop service between Orlando International Airport and Punta Cana and Santiago in the Dominican Republic.
The new route means if JetBlue's acquisition of Spirit proceeds, the post-merger carrier will operate around 200 flights a day from Orlando in Florida.
“We are pleased to share our plans to deliver more growth and more jobs in central Florida, enabled by Florida’s booming economy, our combination with Spirit and as part of the growth commitments we agreed to with Florida attorney general Moody,” said chief executive Robin Hayes.
“JetBlue’s new daily service to the Dominican Republic is a welcome addition to Orlando International Airport,” said Kevin Thibault, chief executive of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
JetBlue said the "planned combination" involving Spirit would "unlock long-term growth opportunities that would not be possible otherwise, delivering JetBlue’s low-fare, customer-friendly experience on more routes" by operating flights to "approximately 20 markets that are not served by either JetBlue or Spirit from Orlando today and would increase flight frequencies on approximately 25 additional routes", as well as creating 350 jobs at the airport.
The announcement of the new routes came after the US Department of Justice sought to block the JetBlue-Spirit with a filing in early March to a court in Massachusetts.