New flights at Logan Airport in Boston

American Airlines and JetBlue have added new flights to their schedules at Boston’s Logan Airport. Some flights are new, some are returning, and some are seasonal – signs of an upswing, or at least an anticipation, of providing passengers with more travel options.

American Airlines adds six new flights
American Airlines announced today it is strengthening its leadership position at Logan Airport with the addition of six new daily flights this spring, including the return of service to San Diego, additional flights to London, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, and St. Louis, plus the resumption of seasonal service to Paris.

The new, daily flight to San Diego will begin on April 7, together with a fourth daily flight to Los Angeles, a ninth daily flight to Dallas-Fort Worth, and a third daily flight to St. Louis. On May 1, American will begin a third daily flight to London from Boston and will resume its daily, seasonal flight to Paris.

“Despite the difficult economic environment, we are pleased to be able to step up and meet the demand in the New England market with these new flights,” said Charlie Schewe, American’s director of sales – Northeast and Canada. “These additional flights will give our customers – especially our business customers – valuable new options for domestic and international travel on American.”

JetBlue adds more flights to 12 cities
JetBlue Airways announced today the first step of plans to grow its focus city at Logan International Airport in 2009, giving its customers more choices to more cities.

JetBlue will add new or expanded service to 12 business and leisure destinations across the United States and Caribbean, adding further depth to its already robust schedule of service to 31 cities in seven countries from Boston. Boston is JetBlue’s second-largest base of operations, with a growing base of nearly 1,200 local crewmembers.

Beginning May 1, JetBlue will resume flights between Boston and San Francisco International Airport with a seasonal nonstop service. JetBlue will also add a second daily flight on routes to Charlotte, NC; Chicago (O’Hare); Pittsburgh; and Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; a third daily flight to Buffalo, N.Y. and L.A./Long Beach, CA; a sixth and seventh daily flight to Washington (Dulles); and a ninth and tenth daily flight to New York (JFK).

In May, JetBlue will resume seasonal nonstop service to Bermuda and also add daily nonstop service to San Juan, Puerto Rico – a previously winter-only route. New nonstop service to St. Maarten, a new route beginning February 14, 2009, will operate year-round on Saturdays. JetBlue also offers nonstop service to Aruba and Cancun, Mexico year-round; to Nassau, Bahamas throughout the winter season; and to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic this holiday season (December 18, 2009 – January 5, 2009).

“With the addition of more flights to 12 top destinations, JetBlue is making it easier than ever to do business in and out of Boston,” said JetBlue’s vice president of planning Marty St. George. “With our expanded schedule, easy, same-day trips between Boston and the nation’s top business centers like Charlotte and Raleigh are now a breeze. And when you’re ready for a break, our new year-round flights to places like St. Maarten and San Juan make getting away even easier – and more comfortable.”

“This expanded effort is proof that Boston’s economy remains strong,” said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. “Despite difficult economic times, families and business people from all over the world continue to make Boston one of their top destinations.”

“This expansion of service by JetBlue is good news for Boston Logan International Airport and the millions of passengers who choose to fly from New England’s gateway,” said Ed Freni, director of aviation for the Massachusetts Port Authority, which owns and operates Logan. “In four short years, JetBlue has become a favorite of passengers and now flies nonstop to more destinations than any other carrier. Their success here is indicative of the strong market in Boston for business and leisure travel.”