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JetBlue Cancun Route Up And Flying

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: December 19, 2008

TAMPA - Kevin and Jackie Transue began their latest trip to Mexico on Thursday by driving from their Spring Hill home to Tampa International Airport, where a mariachi band provided entertainment for JetBlue Airways' inaugural Tampa-Cancun flight.

JetBlue and TIA celebrated the restoration of Tampa-Cancun service, which four other airlines have planned or tried since the 1980s before choosing other routes for reasons ranging from hurricane damage in Mexico to low ridership.

The Transues were celebrating low fares: $192 round trip compared with up to $700 they had been quoted before the JetBlue flight became available. They also like the direct, nonstop service, rather than making multiple connections as they had in the past through Charlotte, N.C., and Houston.

JetBlue sold 85 of the 100 seats on the Embraer E190 jet on the 107-minute morning flight.

"We are booking upward of 80 percent of the seats on the flights so far," said Linda Meech, general manager for JetBlue at Tampa International.

The airline announced the new service in July and maintained its plans despite the poor economy.

The flights are expected to serve mostly leisure travelers originating their round trips in Tampa, airport director Louis Miller said.
Anecdotal accounts revealed some traffic is bound for places beyond Cancun - the Transues were headed to Cozumel, after an $8 bus ride and $12 ferry, once they arrived in Cancun.

San Jose, Costa Rica, is next on the airport's priority list for international service expansion, along with additional flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and a resumption of service to Nassau in the Bahamas.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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