JetBlue Airlines is resuming nonstop flights from Syracuse to Fort Lauderdale, Florida thanks to some convincing from Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY).
Christina Callahan, the executive director of the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority said JetBlue stopped service to that destination back in 2009 because of high fuel prices. But now Callahan said fuel prices have gone down and the amount of people flying every year is up two percent from last year, for a total of two million people using the Syracuse airport.
“Anything that we can do to increase frequency, introduce competition, bring more destinations into our market is going to benefit the flying public," Callahan said. "Our flying public will drive up to two hours to get their air service.”
Callahan said JetBlue will start service in January and end it when the busy travel season south ends in May. But if there is enough demand, she hopes those flights will continue year-round.
Callahan says other airlines are also stepping up including Delta which has upgraded the size of their aircrafts and have added more seats. Tickets for the JetBlue Fort Lauderdale flights will be made available to the public starting on Wednesday.
