Albuquerque, Anchorage and Charleston featured in new JetBlue route roll-outs for 1H2013

In a curious move JetBlue is boldly taking on Alaska Airlines in one of Alaska's core markets - Seattle-Anchorage - without having a strong anchor base on either side. JetBlue is also introducing new service to Albuquerque in New Mexico and Charleston in South Carolina and is expanding its intra-Caribbean network with new flights from its San Juan focus city to Punta Cana and Santiago in the the Dominican Republic. The expansion at San Juan appears to be a move by JetBlue to backfill some flights likely being eliminated by American Eagle as it winds down its long-standing San Juan hub.

The recently announced new markets for 1H2013 runs somewhat counter to statements recently made by JetBlue management that Boston would continue to play a major role in the carrier's network as it continues work to add attractive markets to business travellers. Charleston is the only new market which will be served from Boston, where JetBlue will offer roughly 109 daily departures during 4Q2012. JetBlue will serve Charleston from Boston with one daily flight and from New York JFK, its largest hub, with two daily flights.