JetBlue exec reaffirms commitment to Worcester
SAM BONACCI
Joanna Geraghty, JetBlue's executive vice president for customer experience, addresses members of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce during a Breakfast Club event Thursday morning.
Joanna Geraghty reaffirmed JetBlue’s commitment to Worcester during a speech Thursday morning in which she called for city’s business community to push for improvements to Worcester’s airport.
JetBlue is committed to Worcester, said the company’s executive vice president for customer experience at a Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Club event, but there needs to be a continued commitment to Worcester’s airport through improvements to the equipment. Geraghty was making reference to a $30 million Category 3 landing system, which would allow greater use of the fog-prone airport.
“When fog rolls in, we have to bus, which is not a great experience for anybody,” she said. “Busing in fog is not a great customer option no matter which way you look at it.”
Geraghty explained that this has left some customers questioning why they did not just fly out of Logan to begin with when they have to be bused there for their flights during the foggy conditions. It is important for local business owners to get behind the improvements, she said. The community needs to put pressure on the FAA, which controls the installation of such equipment, along with the continued push from Massport and JetBlue.
“When you bring an airline into a community, the ripple effect down the line is absolutely tremendous,” Geraghty said. “Airlines and trains and busing builds the strength of the economic community … JetBlue is absolutely a part of that in Worcester and wants to continue to be a part of that.”
Despite this issue, JetBlue is on track with their service in Worcester, she said, having flown more than 110,000 people out of Worcester in the first year of service. The service is not yet profitable, but that is to be expected when you make a domestic expansion. Fares remain roughly $50 below their equivalent in Boston, which may close slightly in the coming year, but flights out of Worcester remain a great value, she said.
“We’re not profitable, but that is not expected when you ramp up domestically,” Geraghty said. “We are not concerned. We are on track.”
Looking forward, Geraghty said that she would love to see more airlines come to Worcester. There is a whole marquee that she hopes to see fill up with other flights from different carriers, she said.
“I love Worcester and we would love to see other carriers serve in Worcester. That is what brings strength and health to economies like Worcester,” Geraghty said.
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