JetBlue Begins Direct Flight from New York to Belize
A new non-stop service began today with the arrival of JetBlue Airlines at the Philip Goldson International Airport. The inaugural flight made its way from New York’s JFK International Airport and landed in Belize shortly after eleven o’clock this morning. On hand to welcome the first passengers onboard the flight was Prime Minister John Briceño and Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler. During a brief ceremony at the PGIA to celebrate the start of the flight service, JetBlue’s Vice President of Government and Airport Affairs, Jeffrey Goodell gave his remarks, as well as Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler. The inaugural flight was flown by a Belizean pilot who hails from Punta Gorda.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“I think we need to be able to thank Minister Mahler and his team, I mean they have been constantly on the road trying to get more and more airlines to come in from different parts of the country, of the US and certainly in Europe. Now here we are today, finally getting Jet Blue to make its first inaugural flight and they will be flying three times a week. So it will make it easy for tourists that could come for the weekend if they wish, as opposed to being stuck for a whole week. And likewise for Belizeans, you know, we have a lot of families in the New York area. So again, this makes it easier for us to be able to travel. So my hat goes off to the minister and his team, but also to Jet Blue. To Jeffrey who was here today, explaining through the process they [took] to be able to get here and also what crowning achievement could we have now when it’s a Belizean pilot who is from PG, of all places, to be flying in Jet Blue, the first international, the first Belizean flying an international carrier and to make the inaugural flight to us. It’s almost like a fairytale, it couldn’t be better.”
Reporter
“How do you anticipate this will improve Belize’s economy, especially in the tourism industry?”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well I think it’s going to play a significant role because then, more people of the northeast would be able to say that they can come in one day and quickly, with one flight, they can be in Belize. So I think it is opening up a new area for Belize and for Americans to be able to come and access Belize quite easily.
Jeffrey Goodell
Jeffrey Goodell, VP, Government, Airport Affairs
“We are thrilled to be here today to celebrate another exciting occasion, our first flight from the Philip Goldson International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. It’s incredible, you may know, and the minister just talked about it, in just twenty-three years since our first flight in February 2000, we’ve grown from a small little airline based in New York to becoming the sixth largest airline in the United States. We are serving more than a hundred destinations across the US, the Caribbean, Latin America, Canada, Europe and, as of today, we are pleased, thrilled that Belize is among them. With this launch, JetBlue becomes the only airline to offer non-stop sevice between New York, JFK and Belize and we get to do so by introducing award-winning airfare service and a better option for customers who are looking to fly between Belize and the US.”
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
“Almost every year since we’ve been in government, we’ve been here a couple of times and that shows the work and the dedication in partnership with the airport, with the private sector to ensure that we have additional airlift into the country. It’s now twelve and twenty-one or so. Twelve airlines catering to twenty-one cities. Now I often say that airlift is the lifeblood of the industry, the overnight sector is the most important aspect of our business. Cruise plays its part but the bulk of the revenue is generated by the tourism industry comes from the overnight sector. Also, I am glad to see that a Belizean pilot flew in the first flight, thank you for that. You have approximately two hundred and eighty airplanes, thereabout. You are in the top tier in all aspects of aviation as a domestic carrier in the United States. We truly look forward to this partnership, JetBlue opens a whole new route for us to New York. I am also the Minister responsible for Diaspora Relations and there are many Belizeans who will use this route.”
