NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) today announced the start of new service in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with the first flight arriving in the South American city just before 11 p.m. local time last night and the first northbound leg of the route arriving in South Florida just after 5 a.m. today. New service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Guayaquil’s José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE) operates daily and brings JetBlue to a sixth destination in South America.
“From museums and restaurants, to nearby islands and beaches Guayaquil offers something for nearly every JetBlue traveler,” said Andrea Lusso, director route planning, JetBlue. “At the same time, new Guayaquil flights bring our award-winning service and low fares to yet another new Latin American city while also expanding our international footprint and advancing our focus city growth strategy.”
Home to more than two million people, Guayaquil is buzzing with colorful cityscapes, outdoor gardens and zoos. The city is also a convenient gateway to the natural beauty of the Galapagos Islands. With quick and easy flight access from Guayaquil, travelers can get up close and personal with wildlife while surrounded by unique landscapes unlike anywhere else in the world.
“We welcome JetBlue’s direct flight from the U.S., which is where we draw the greatest number of tourists,” said Gloria Gallardo Zavala, president of the Guayaquil Bureau of Tourism, Civic Promotion and International Relations. “Guayaquil is the gateway to the Galapagos and to Ecuador. Those who visit Guayaquil will experience the hospitality, the warmth, and the joy of our people – all traits that stands out in publications that recommend our city.”
JetBlue has already seen success in Ecuador. The airline first launched once daily service between Fort Lauderdale and Quito in 2016. In response to customer demand, JetBlue will add a second seasonal daily flight to the Quito route this summer. The expanded Quito service, along with the new Guayaquil flights, advance JetBlue’s position as the top airline at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, where the airline plans to operate 140 daily flights in the coming years. It is one of JetBlue’s fastest-growing focus cities, serving customers throughout South Florida and offering a fast and convenient alternative for Miami-Dade travelers.
Additionally, JetBlue customers in a variety of cities beyond Fort Lauderdale – including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Philadelphia and more – will benefit from the new route with convenient connections through JetBlue’s South Florida focus city.
New service between Fort Lauderdale and Guayaquil will be operated on JetBlue’s Airbus A320 aircraft featuring the airline’s award-winning service with comfortable seating; complimentary and unlimited name-brand snacks; free first-run Hollywood movies; and the most legroom in coach (a).
About JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is New York's Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 42 million customers a year to 100+ cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America with an average of more than 1,000 daily flights. For more information please visit jetblue.com.
(a) JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach based on average fleet-wide seat pitch for U.S. airlines.
