by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 3:32 PM ET, Wed September 5, 2018
JetBlue is once again growing its transcontinental route map with the start of new service between New York's John F. Kennedy Airport and Southern California's Ontario International Airport.
The inaugural flight for the new route is set to land in Ontario just before 10 p.m. local time tonight, the airline said in a statement.
Ontario is the 10th city served by JetBlue in California and the 73rd non-stop destination from New York's JFK airport.
"The Golden State has been an important part of the JetBlue story since our earliest days of flying and that's still the case today as we continue to grow in Southern California," Rob Land, senior vice president government affairs & associate general counsel, JetBlue, said in a statement. "Ontario service brings our award-winning JetBlue experience and great fares to one of the fastest growing regions of the country where travelers are eager to take to the skies with us."
Ontario's busy airport serves six million people in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, as well as portions of Orange and Los Angeles countries. The region, known as the Inland Empire, is one of the fastest growing metro areas in California due in large part to affordable home prices, new construction, and a growing nightlife and cultural scene.
The San Bernardino-Riverside-Ontario metro area is on track to grow by some two million people over the next three decades.
JetBlue previously served Ontario between 2000 and 2008. Its return after a decade comes in response to a surge in customer demand in the Inland Empire and the Ontario airport's leadership position on smart growth in Southern California.
"The Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau is very excited to welcome Jet Blue's inaugural flight and thrilled they are returning to our region," said Michael Krouse, president & CEO, Ontario Convention Center. "The Greater Ontario area has grown significantly over the past few years but also as a visitor destination and non-stop service to JFK speaks volumes. We look forward to visitors stopping by the California Welcome Center at Ontario Mills where our staff of destination experts can provide the tools and recommendations to make the most of a business or leisure trip."
The airline said the new service is part of broader series of network enhancements aimed at better meeting the needs of coast-to-coast travelers.
JetBlue serves more cities in California with non-stop service to New York than any other airline. Transcontinental flights now make-up about 15 percent of all JetBlue flying and have accounted for increased profitability for the airline.
All Ontario flights will be operated on JetBlue's Airbus A320 aircraft.
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