JetBlue Airways, in a move that is certain to pose a challenge to Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, announced plans to add its upscale Mint flights to California-bound service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The New York-based carrier announced this week it intends to start daily nonstop flights to San Diego on Nov. 19. It’s the airline’s first direct connection between the two Sunbelt cities.
More of the upscale business class service from Fort Lauderdale is also set for Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Operated aboard Airbus 321 jetliners, Mint service includes lie-flat seats and upscale food service.
The announcement comes in the wake of JetBlue’s recent declaration that it will operate up to 150 daily departures from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International by February 2027.
It is now the leading carrier in flights and passengers served at the Broward County airport since the early May collapse of ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines, which was based in Dania Beach.
“Customers in Fort Lauderdale continue to choose JetBlue for a better coast-to-coast experience, and these additions give them even more of what they value most: more flights, more premium options and the comfort of Mint on key West Coast routes,” Daniel Shurz, senior vice president, revenue, network and enterprise planning, said in a prepared statement.
United Airlines of Chicago has scheduled an Oct. 25 launch of transcontinental service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International to Los Angeles. Its initial schedule will include five weekly flights, with an increase to twice a day starting Dec. 17.
United’s move is regarded by analysts as not only a challenge to JetBlue, but to Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, whose presence is expanding in Los Angeles. The latter carrier operates a daily flight from Fort Lauderdale on the route, which takes a little more than six hours of flight time.