Published: Jun. 6, 2024 at 11:29 AM EDT
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) - JetBlue is the new Essential Air Service Carrier for the Presque Isle International Airport. We brought you this story yesterday. This new service will go into effect on September 1st, but what does this mean for the Star City and flyers? NewsSource8′s Brian Bouchard has the story.
On September 1st JetBlue will begin service here at Presque Isle International Airport on an initial two year term with seven round trip flights per week using a 100 passenger jet. This decision from the US Department of Transportation culminates a multi-month selection and recommendation process. I sat down with Presque Isle City Council Chairman Kevin Freeman to learn more about the change means for the Star City and air travelers.
“Kevin, can you tell me a little bit what was involved in the selection process for JetBlue being chosen?”
“So every two years we get the opportunity to see proposals through our airport staff at this time around there was some interesting proposals given. American Airlines had a proposal to go to Philadelphia non-stop from Presque Isle, JetBlue, obviously to Boston/Logan International and United basically going to Newark. So all of those proposals were carefully weighed.”
“What set JetBlue apart from the other bids? "
“Well, number one I think is that in order to grow our air service beyond where we’re at right now, we really need more seats, particularly in the morning. And that was something that we had asked our previous partner to consider. It’s kind of like going to a supermarket or a deli counter and ordering something to eat. And when you go to the deli counter and there’s a ham and cheese sandwich, plain and that’s the only sandwich you’re going to Get On the menu. That is what you’ve got. And that’s what our previous air carrier had. They had one selection, one option, no other option. JetBlue come by and said we can offer you the ham and cheese sandwich, but we’re going to super size it. We’re going to go from A 50 seat plane to 100. Not only will we get more seat availability and departures in the morning, which is critical for destinations. "
“How do you anticipate JetBlue’s presence will affect tourism and business here in Presque Isle?”
“Well, I think initially because people plan their reservations a couple of months in advance and make their travel plans, I think initially The jet service is probably going to be lower seating than we would like to see. If that’s really up to our marketing partner with JetBlue and stuff to decide how they want to introduce their service to our area. And we’re waiting to hear what that’s going to be over the next couple of months, other services scheduled to begin sometime in early to September. So the fall travel season and certainly the holiday season. Will be opportunity for people to try out JetBlue to Boston. "
“Now Kevin, how will the performance of JetBlue service be monitored and evaluated throughout the initial two year term? "
“So it’s on time arrivals, cancellation rates. JetBlue currently is around a 2 to 4% cancellation rate nationwide, which is industry standard. Unfortunately, with United over the last two years, we’re hovering around the 12 to 13% cancelation rate and a lot of that is the return flight at night leaving Newark. And that’s a piece of the of the problem with Newark is that they are so congested sometimes. The planes just don’t have the opportunity to get in line to take off. Boston/Logan’s not that way. It’s a lot less traffic down in Boston/Logan JetBlue has an Excellent hub down there, they’ve got lots of aircraft and I believe that we won’t see as high a cancellation rate with JetBlue.”
Freeman adds that this is JetBlue’s first foray into the Essential Air Service program, and he looks forward to seeing the impact the change will have the local area.
WAGM has reached out to both United and JetBlue regarding the logistics and details of the change including when reservations can be made using the new service and we’ll have more as information becomes available.
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