JetBlue Kicks Off Nonstop Service to Boston and N.Y. From Austin

JetBlue Airways kicked off its new nonstop service to Boston and New York on Thursday, and airline officials said they'll add more Austin flights based on demand.

Austin is the upstart airline's first Texas market. Its entrance into the state is part of an ambitious expansion plan by the fastest-growing major U.S. airline.

David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue Airways Inc., came to town for the launch, which began with the arrival of a flight from Boston.

"We studied the demographics long and hard, and considering the growth and economic vitality of Austin, it really was a no-brainer," Neeleman said. "It's a great city, but one of the things it lacks is quality air service."

Like Southwest Airlines, JetBlue offers low fares. It also has extras such as on-board entertainment including XM Satellite radio and seatback televisions.

JetBlue is offering promotional one-way fares of $79 from Austin to Boston and New York for reservations made by Jan. 26 for travel by Feb. 28.

Like other discount carriers, JetBlue is seeking to fill voids left by larger network carriers, which have been slowing or cutting back on domestic capacity and focusing on more lucrative international flights.

JetBlue also is challenging Southwest, the largest carrier in Austin. Southwest doesn't offer service to Boston, and its New York-area flight goes to Islip, on Long Island, while JetBlue flies to Kennedy International Airport.

Neeleman didn't fly his own airline to town but wouldn't say which airline he took. "Not Southwest," he said.

Getting from Austin to New York long has been a frustration because the only nonstop flights were the two trips daily to Newark, N.J., on Continental Airlines. But Delta Air Lines added two daily nonstops to JFK in October, and JetBlue's arrival gives Central Texans seven nonstop routes to the Big Apple every day. Also, because JFK is a major terminal for many of the world's airlines, the new flights should make it easier to catch international flights.

JetBlue's Boston flight is the first nonstop service from Austin to Boston since 2002, when American Airlines eliminated its offering.

Austin's expanding travel options were celebrated at JetBlue's ribbon cutting ceremony at Gate 19. Mayor Will Wynn told the crowd that "better air service facilitates economic growth and job growth locally."

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, said "the biggest complaint I hear from businesses we're trying to recruit to the region is there aren't enough nonstop flights. It's a big issue, and this is big step forward."

Also receiving praise from McCaul "is the fact that there are no middle seats." That's because the Embraer 190 jets JetBlue is using for its Austin flights have two rows with two seats each. But he did have one request: nonstop service to the Washington, D.C., area.

Neeleman said adding nonstop flights from Austin is JetBlue's plan.

"When the flights fill up, we'll add new destinations and expand service," he said. "Austin has all the right ingredients -- the university, the state Capitol, the tech community -- to become an important center for us."

Passengers Henry and Daniella Almeida gave JetBlue their endorsement after arriving on the inaugural Boston flight to visit friends for the weekend.

"We were impressed," said Henry Almeida, who spent the flight watching ESPN SportsCenter while his wife watched a movie. "It made the flight go really fast. But the best part was not having a layover."

With the JetBlue flights, Austin now has nonstop service to 30 cities outside Texas.

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