NEW YORK (Reuters) - JetBlue Airways said on Wednesday it is expanding service from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as U.S. airlines rush to expand service in the key markets of bankrupt discount carrier Spirit Airlines.
New York-based JetBlue is offering nine new nonstop routes from Southern Florida across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean, as rivals, including United Airlines and Frontier Group, also rush to cash in on Spirit's second bankruptcy filing in less than a year.
JetBlue said
it will offer 113 daily flights during peak times this winter to cement its position as the airline with the most departures from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport. Its nine new routes, starting in November, will include, for the first time, Cali, Colombia.
The company said in July it would expand its Mint service, a premium travel option with seats that lie flat, as airlines look to capture premium spending from U.S. consumers.
JetBlue said it expects a smaller decline in its third-quarter operating revenue than it anticipated earlier, citing strong demand for air travel through the summer and Labor Day weekend.
Regional carrier Allegiant Air on Tuesday announced three new routes launching in February, including one from Fort Lauderdale to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
United said this month it will expand its footprint in Spirit's markets, including Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Las Vegas, while ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier is setting its sights on new routes in the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean.
(Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in Washington; Editing by Mark Porter and Rod Nickel)
