Commercial flights return to Worcester airport, as JetBlue to restart NYC, Fort Lauderdale nonstops
Photo | Courtesy of Massport
Joanna Geraghty (middle, in black) attends a 2021 event announcing the return of commercial flights to Worcester Regional Airport after a pandemic-related pause that occurred in October 2020.
JetBlue Airways teased a Wednesday announcement related to the Worcester, but ahead of a midday press conference, direct flights from Worcester Regional Airport to New York City, as well as Fort Lauderdale, Fla. were already available for booking, beginning Aug. 20.
The Worcester Regional Airport hasn’t had commercial airline service since October, after all major carriers servicing the airport halted flights, including JetBlue, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, as the impact from the coronavirus pandemic ravaged the commercial airline industry. The Worcester airport had been offering direct flights to New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Florida. It had been uncertain, since the flight stoppage, when service might again resume.
On the JetBlue website, direct flights from Worcester to John F. Kennedy International Airport were available starting on Aug. 20. Fares start at $44 each way. The service starts with a single 9:25 a.m. flight to JFK, followed by an 8 p.m. flight back to Worcester. The service switches to twice daily in October. The flight will use a 100-seat Embraer E190 jet aircraft.
Direct Worcester flights to Fort Lauderdale start booking for Oct. 22 on the JetBlue website. That service starts with a single 6 a.m. flight to Fort Lauderdale, followed by an 8:30 p.m. flight back to Worcester. Bookings start at $79 each way.
Passengers looking to fly into Worcester from New York City and Fort Lauderdale can do so starting the day before the first outbound direct flights out of Worcester. The first JetBlue flight from JFK to Worcester leaves on Aug. 19, while the first nonstop flight from Fort Lauderdale to Worcester leaves on Oct. 21.
JetBlue, which is based in New York, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday morning. The Massachusetts Port Authority, which owns and operates the Worcester airport, deferred an inquiry to the planned 12:30 p.m. press conference. During the press conference, officials confirmed the details on the flights listed on JetBlue's website.
The 12:30 p.m. press conference, which coincided with the Worcester airport's 75th anniversary, was attended by Joanna Geraghty, president and COO of JetBlue; Massport CEO Lisa Wieland; Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito; Congressman Jim McGovern (D-Worcester); Lew Evangelidis, Massport board chairman and Worcester County sheriff; Massport Aviation Director Ed Freni; Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty; and Worcester Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn.
In March, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Timothy Murray wrote a letter asking JetBlue Founder David Neeleman to consider bringing his forthcoming budget airline, Breeze Airways, to Worcester. Breeze ended up not choosing Worcester in its initial launch, which was announced in May.
The availability of August flights also comes, separately, after an agreement between JetBlue and American Airlines, approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation on Jan. 10, allowing the two airlines to coordinate service to the Northeastern United States. That agreement included a caveat specifically allowing JetBlue to opt out of service to Worcester as part of the formalized relationship between the two major airlines. JetBlue said in January the agreement reflected its current service stoppage to Worcester, but would not affect future plans for the company’s plans to service the city.
Until JetBlue ceased service to Worcester because of the coronavirus pandemic, it offered nonstop service to New York City, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this article incorrectly said the twice daily service between Worcester Regional Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City starts in November. It starts in October.
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