JetBlue to restore Worcester-Orlando route

WORCESTER - JetBlue is adding Orlando and Fort Myers to its flight offerings to and from Worcester Regional Airport.

The airline, which currently connects with New York and Fort Lauderdale through Worcester, announced the expanded Florida lineup during a news conference at Worcester Regional Airport Monday morning. Gov. Maura Healey and JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes were among the officials on hand for the event.

"I don't know of a region in this great state that does it better than Worcester and Central Mass. in terms of people working together. And that's what today is all about," Healey said.

Healey said in addition to the new routes, Central Mass. continues to have many opportunities for development and economic opportunity.

"You're going to have a partner in this administration to get where you need to go," Healey said.

The flights to Orlando are a resurrection of a route that was stopped during the pandemic.

The Orlando route begins June 15, with Fort Myers to debut Jan. 4. The flights are nonstop.

JetBlue also announced that larger planes with capacity to carry about 160 passengers will begin taking off from Worcester. Current JetBlue planes leaving the airport can carry 100 passengers.

Hayes said JetBlue has also been expanding its network in Orlando to add routes to Caribbean and Latin American markets, giving Worcester travelers more options for connecting flights through Orlando.

Mayor Joseph Petty said JetBlue should consider making Ghana's capital city, Accra, one of the options available to passengers given the city's Ghanian community.

The Fort Myers route will be winter seasonal service. The route will initially launch with twice-weekly service with plans to increase to daily service mid-February through the end of Red Sox spring training, which is held at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers.

"These routes can only be successful with the support and the partnership of the community here in Central Massachusetts. So hopefully everybody's going to give us a try," Hayes said.

More flights to Florida have been a major ask for Worcester County residents.

Worcester County Sheriff and Massport Board Chair Lewis Evangelidis said the one question he is asked everywhere he goes is when flights to Florida will expand at the airport.

Daily flights from Orlando to Worcester scheduled to leave at 11:05 a.m. and land around 1:54 p.m. Flights from Worcester to Orlando are scheduled to start at 2:40 p.m. and land at around 5:41 p.m.

Flights from Fort Myers to Worcester are scheduled to leave at 12:21 p.m. and land around 3:21 p.m. Worcester to Fort Myers flights are scheduled to leave at 4:06 p.m. and land around 7:06 p.m.

Earlier: Massport: American Airlines to resume service at Worcester Regional Airport Nov. 2

Earlier: Back in the air: JetBlue returns to the sky over Worcester Regional Airport

Return to telegram.com for more on this story.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: JetBlue to restore Worcester-Orlando route, says Massport