With JetBlue’s first flights into Vero Beach Regional Airport just about 3½ months away, local officials are saying the addition of another airline here will open more opportunities for the city and Indian River County.
JetBlue announced Aug. 14 that it would begin daily nonstop flights to Boston and New York beginning in Dec. 11. The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce believes more flights to more destinations can only help the local area.
“To have one airline at the airport is huge for our area,” said Mark Litten, chamber vice president of economic development. “To have two is unprecedented for a small community like ours.”
While Breeze Airways flies from Vero Beach to underserved markets, JetBlue will service major international hubs: Boston Logan International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Economic Driver
The airport and its many tenants are a key component of the local economy, explained Litten.
“We see a lot of Vero Beach’s and Indian River County’s economic opportunities come via the airport,” he said. “Things like tourism rely on the airport. People travel, learn to fly or even buy planes here. But the airport is more than just planes. It’s a gateway.”
Chamber Vice President of Tourism and Marketing Ben Earman expects people from the Boston-area to start making a huge impact.
“With the Breeze Airways flights to and from Washington, D.C., we saw the uptake in Washington-area visitors,” explained Earman. “Now this will increase visitors from the Boston area, who would also spend more in our county.”
New York already is the No. 1 source for tourists, but the new flights could further cement its hold, explained Earman.
Credit: Nick Slater
