JetBlue to Schedule Puerto Rico Flights

JetBlue said yesterday it will bolster its schedule to Puerto Rico this winter with additional service from Boston, New York and Orlando, and Puerto Rico officials hope it’s a sign of a payoff for their efforts to maintain or even increase airline service with fee breaks and marketing support to counter higher fuel prices.

The island was stung by American’s decision, announced in late May, to reduce service to San Juan this September. But a Puerto Rico Tourism Co. spokesman told The DAILY the authority is reminding all carriers that serve the island that it offers joint marketing to help sell service on routes and is talking to all of the carriers serving the island about potential agreements. The tourism agency has $4 million in its budget specifically to attract and keep airline service.

The airports authority decided just a couple of weeks ago that it will not raise its landing or passenger fees for this year even though its costs have gone up, and is implementing an incentive program for airlines during the low-season months of September, October and February, when it said passenger traffic typically decreases by about 30 percent. The incentive program could cut airlines’ fees 15 percent to 45 percent.

The tourism agency spokesman said most airlines have not been taking advantage of the marketing program, but added they have been asking more about it in the face of the fuel price difficulties.