JetBlue to fly to Puerto Rico from HPN starting Oct. 27

JetBlue will offer Westchester County Airport (HPN) travelers non-stop commercial flights to Puerto Rico for the first time by any airline starting Oct. 27.

The once-a-day service will depart daily at 8:00 a.m. (flight 2601) for San Juan (SJU), arriving at 1:00 p.m. local time. Return service (flight 2602) will leave SJU at 8:00 p.m. (local time), arriving at HPN at 10:55 p.m.

The historic move will provide local airline customers with their first opportunity to fly non-stop to the Caribbean—something only previously possible by leaving from JFK International Airport in Queens, up to an hour or more car ride from this area depending on traffic.

The changes in JetBlue’s flight offerings, mirrored across its entire network domestically and internationally, come in the wake of the U.S. Government’s breakup of its planned merger with Spirit Airlines.

In a publicity release announcing the HPN-SJU flights, JetBlue offered New York’s Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer the opportunity to claim credit for the Puerto Rico service.

Quoting the release:

“It’s official. JetBlue is landing in the Hudson Valley with brand new service to Puerto Rico. For years I have fought to increase service for the Westchester County Airport, and this new route will help provide easy connections for tourists and for families who have loved ones on the island and help provide a key destination for new business to help our local economy soar,” said Senator Charles Schumer of New York. “The federal funds I have worked hard to deliver are helping the Westchester County Airport reach new heights and today’s news of more routes being added show the sky is the limit for new low-cost flying options in New York.”

Westchester County officials, who themselves have pushed airlines from Delta to JetBlue, Breeze, and American to add service, were not included in the JetBlue announcement.

The Westmore News contacted directly County Director of Operations Joan McDonald, County Director of Aviation April Gasparri, and County Executive George Latimer for comment.

Instead this reporter received a reprimand from County Communications Chief Catherine Cioffi for not contacting her and instead going directly to the County’s top officials involved in airport policy.

A further request to Cioffi to obtain comment from her County colleagues went unanswered.