JetBlue to launch nonstop flights to Cancun and Richmond

JetBlue Airways announced Thursday an expansion of its route map, which includes two new nonstop flights from TPA to Richmond, Va., and Cancun, Mexico.

Service to the cities will begin Nov. 19 and the flights will be daily, subject to adjustments depending on demand. TPA previously had weekly service to Cancun on Delta Air Lines, which has not resumed the route since it was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Southwest Airlines previously provided nonstop service to Richmond which has not yet resumed.

The route expansion is part of a broader JetBlue strategy to meet an expected increased demand for leisure travel including in Florida, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The airline added 24 new routes to its schedule, many of which it has never flown.

“This is the latest example of JetBlue’s ability to be nimble and play offense as we quickly adjust to new customer behaviors and booking patterns,” said Scott Laurence, JetBlue’s head of revenue and planning. “This latest series of new routes – even in the current environment – advances our revised network strategy, returns more aircraft to the skies and doubles down on our ability to generate more cash sooner.”

JetBlue is also planning to launch from TPA its highly anticipated New York City-LaGuardia flights on Oct. 1, along with new service to Providence and Washington D.C.-National on the same date.

“JetBlue has been a wonderful partner to TPA throughout these challenging times and these new routes show JetBlue’s confidence in the resiliency of the Tampa Bay market,” said Chris Minner, TPA Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “We know our leisure passengers have a strong desire to return to the skies as soon as they feel safe to do so, and this new service to Cancun and Richmond puts us in a great position to fulfill that demand.”

To book a flight on JetBlue, go to www.jetblue.com.

To view the latest nonstop service at TPA, go to http://www.tampaairport.com/nonstop.