jetBlue Airways makes strategic competitive moves as it contemplates longer-term route development

jetBlue Airways has drawn attention during the last few weeks as it became the first US airline to operate commercial flights to Cuba in more than half a century, and from its growing consideration towards launching long haul flights to Europe. But behind those headline-grabbing events, jetBlue continues to grow from its points of strength in Fort Lauderdale, Boston and Orlando.

In early 2017 the airline plans to add strategic flights from those three focus cities, entering markets where ample competition already exists. However, as a major force in Fort Lauderdale, Boston and Orlando, jetBlue needs a presence in strategic markets from those airports. Its planned route additions are areas where jetBlue lacks service, and despite the vast competition, the airline needs to offer those route options to its customers.

A recent push by Delta Air Lines into jetBlue's Boston focus city has not appeared to spook jetBlue. On the contrary - jetBlue's ambitious growth from Boston continues unabated as it has declared a new daily peak-day departure target of 200.