JetBlue opens San Juan base with Airbus A320 flights to St Croix

Last week, low-cost carrier JetBlue announced opening a new crew base in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the airline's first base outside the continental United States.

The announcement of the new base coincided with the launch of flights from San Juan to the stunning island of St.

Croix in the US Virgin Islands, further solidifying JetBlue's investment in the Caribbean.

JetBlue has served Puerto Rico for more than 22 years and operates to 18 destinations from the island.

With more than 50 daily departures in peak periods this winter, it is the largest carrier in Puerto Rico. St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands is its latest addition to the network.

The new base will bring more than 400 crewmember jobs to Puerto Rico, including more than 100 pilots and more than 300 inflight crewmembers set to be assigned to the base by next year.

The crew base at San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) was officially on December 12, 2024, to support flight attendants with pilots expected to join in early 2025.

The base is located in the airport's Terminal A, and it will allow crewmembers to begin and end trips from the island, supporting JetBlue's operations in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and beyond.

The crew base builds on JetBlue's Tech Ops maintenance base established in San Juan in 2020 and ensures the airline can quickly respond during operational disruptions.

Warren Christie, chief operating officer at JetBlue, said:

"We are proud to celebrate this important milestone in Puerto Rico. The new crew base reinforces our commitment to investing in the communities we serve, creating opportunities for crewmembers in San Juan and for those who want to return home to the island while expanding our network to meet the growing demand for travel to the Caribbean and beyond."

Last Thursday, JetBlue flight B62940 departed San Juan's Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) at 15:06 for a quick twenty-two-minute hop to St.

Croix Henry E. Rohisen Airport (STX), where it landed at 15:28. The flight was operated with a 2005 Airbus A320-200, registration N630JB and MSN 02640 which departed St Croix at 17:54 and landed in San Juan at 18:21.

St. Croix joins St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands as part of the JetBlue network. St. Thomas is served with a daily return flight from San Juan and winter seasonal flights between Boston and St. Thomas. Christie added that JetBlue is excited to reenter St. Croix, known for its rich history, stunning beaches, and great people.

JetBlue will use Airbus A320s between San Juan and St. Croix, part of its focus on leisure and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) routes aligned with the airline's JetForward strategy.

The A320s offer passengers JetBlue's award-winning service, including fast, free and unlimited broadband Fly-Fi; complimentary name-brand snacks and drinks; and seatback entertainment at every seat.

JetBlue offers flights between San Juan and Boston; Cancun, Mexico; Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Hartford, Connecticut; Medellin, Colombia; Newark, New Jersey; New York JFK; Providence, Rhode Island; Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; St. Croix and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Santiago, Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Washington DC; and Westchester County, New York.