JetBlue's new daily flight between Fort Lauderdale and Ponce landed for the first time on a Friday at Mercedita International Airport, marking the official start of a route aimed at boosting air connectivity, tourism, and economic activity in southern Puerto Rico. The inaugural flight arrived from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport around 3:00 a.m.
Service will operate daily using an Airbus A320 with capacity for 162 passengers, departing Ponce at 5:00 a.m. and arriving from Fort Lauderdale at 11:50 p.m. The Autonomous Municipality of Ponce welcomed passengers with plena music and tourism-themed flags and materials.
Ponce Mayor Marlese Sifre Rodríguez said Fort Lauderdale is a major JetBlue hub connecting to about 46 destinations across the US, Caribbean, and Latin America, crediting collaboration among the Municipality, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (CTPR), and JetBlue. CTPR Executive Director Willianette Robles Cancel said the new route helps decentralize tourism activity across the island and, combined with an existing Aguadilla-Fort Lauderdale route, will generate over $76.7 million in economic impact, adding 118,260 additional seats benefiting the Porta Caribe, Porta del Sol, and Porta Atlántico regions.