Travelers will soon be able to fly directly from Worcester to two different locations in Florida.
JetBlue will add daily, year-round service from Worcester Regional Airport to Orlando International Airport starting June 15, the airline announced Monday. JetBlue previously offered service from Worcester to Orlando, but the flights were discontinued during the pandemic.
“That was always a very popular destination out of here, obviously, making it very convenient for folks in Central Massachusetts to travel directly to Orlando,” said Robin Hayes, CEO of JetBlue, during a press conference at the airport. “We’ve been expanding our network in Orlando to a number of other Caribbean and Latin America markets, so it’s also going to extend and expand on connecting options through Orlando.”
In addition, starting Jan. 4, 2024, JetBlue will begin offering seasonal service to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, to coincide with Red Sox spring training season. Service to Fort Myers will start at twice per week, but the airline will begin offering daily flights in mid-February.
Hayes said JetBlue will also stop using Embraer 190 planes, which seat 100 people, for Worcester flights, instead opting for Airbus 320 planes, which seat 162.
Gov. Maura Healey, who made her first visit as governor to the airport for the announcement, said that the new flights will benefit not just those in Worcester and Central Massachusetts, but throughout the state.
“I think it took me less time to get here today from my house that it might have taken me to get to Logan (International Airport in Boston),” Healey said. “Whether you’re going to check out spring training or looking to fly away for vacation or leisure, this will be a place through which so many people come.”
Healey added that the expansion of service at the airport was reflective of the economic development happening in the Greater Worcester area.
Worcester Regional Airport, known as ORH, originally opened in 1946. It was purchased by Massport in 2010 and reopened in 2013. Prior to the acquisition, there had been discussions in the city of closing the airport and replacing it with a racetrack or casino on the property.
“They all talked about the fact that there was no future here,” said Congressman Jim McGovern, who advocated at the time to keep the airport open, at the press conference on Monday. “We knew that investing in this airport would spur economic growth for our city, region and state. In 2013, JetBlue took a chance on Worcester ... and has been an incredible partner for this community.”
Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce President Tim Murray said on a survey conducted in 2020 about the airport, 94% of respondents said they were likely or very likely to fly out of Worcester Regional Airport if there were flights going where they wanted to go.
Currently, the airport offers five daily nonstop flights from JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Delta and American Airlines both offer one flight to New York, while JetBlue offers two to New York and one to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
When the new JetBlue service begins, the airline will offer daily flights leaving Worcester for Orlando at 2:40 p.m., and arriving in Worcester from Orlando at 11:05 a.m. Fort Myers flights will leave Worcester at 4:06 p.m. and arrive in the city at 12:21 p.m.
Tickets to Orlando are on sale now, starting at $34 for a limited time.
In honor of the new service to Fort Meyers, the Worcester Red Sox will give away round-trip tickets from Worcester for a family of four to go to spring training next year at an upcoming home game.
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