2013, CUBA, ROARK

JetBlue would like to take over seven of the 21 daily U.S.-Havana flights that Spirit and Frontier will give up in the late spring.

In an application to the Department of Transportation Thursday, JetBlue said it would like to increase its Fort Lauderdale-Havana service from 13 times per week to 19 times per week. The carrier also said it would like to launch the first Boston-Havana service, with weekly flights on Saturdays.

“JetBlue proposes to begin the additional services on Nov. 1, 2017, in order to capitalize on the success of JetBlue’s initial entry into Cuba, which has provided customers in both countries with access to JetBlue’s low airfares and award-winning service,” it said in the application.

Along with its Fort Lauderdale flights, JetBlue flies to Havana daily from Orlando and New York.

The carrier’s move to grab more Havana frequencies goes against the general trend that has materialized since commercial service between the U.S. and Cuba resumed late last year.

Spirit plans to drop its twice-daily Fort Lauderdale to Havana flights on May 31 while Frontier will cease its daily Miami-Havana service on June 4. Meanwhile, the Florida regional carrier Silver is ending service to nine Cuban destinations outside of Havana on Saturday.

All the carriers have cited overcapacity, high operating costs and lack of demand for their decision.

In addition, American has reduced aircraft size on some Cuban destinations outside of Havana.

JetBlue, too, has been part of the trend, downsizing aircraft on Cuba flights, including its three dailies to Havana.

Sоurсе: travelweekly.com