👤 Who: JetBlue Airways, Okaloosa County Commission Chairman Paul Mixon, JetBlue Vice President Dave Jehn
🛫 What: Launching new nonstop seasonal flights to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport
📅 When: Beginning March 5, 2026
📍 Where: Flights from Boston Logan International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to VPS
💡 Why: To expand JetBlue’s Florida network and connect Emerald Coast residents and visitors to major Northeast cities
JetBlue Airways announced Thursday it will begin new nonstop flights connecting Boston and New York to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) starting March 5, 2026. The addition brings one of the nation’s most well-known low-cost carriers to Northwest Florida for the first time, expanding air travel options for both residents and visitors along the Emerald Coast.
The airline will operate five seasonal flights per week from both Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The routes will run on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
JetBlue Vice President of Network Planning and Airline Partnerships Dave Jehn said the new routes strengthen the airline’s Northeast–Florida network, while giving travelers in the Panhandle new access to the northeastern United States.
“Florida continues to be a place where JetBlue’s combination of great service and value resonates strongly with travelers,” Jehn said. “By adding Destin–Fort Walton Beach to our map, we’re bringing more choices to customers in Boston and New York while opening the door for Emerald Coast residents to connect easily to the Northeast and beyond.”
Okaloosa County Commission Chairman Paul Mixon welcomed JetBlue’s expansion into the region, calling it a major step for tourism and business development in Northwest Florida. “We want to welcome JetBlue to Destin–Fort Walton Beach and all the passengers they will bring, both business and pleasure, to experience the natural beauty of Northwest Florida,” Mixon said. “We look forward to seeing their success at VPS and appreciate all of the efforts it took to get them here.”
The new routes will connect JetBlue’s two major Northeast focus cities with the growing leisure destination of Destin–Fort Walton Beach. Travelers will have access to JetBlue’s in-flight amenities, including complimentary Wi-Fi (Fly-Fi®), live television on seatback screens, and free snacks and beverages.
Flight Schedule
Boston (BOS) → VPS (Flight #1781): Departs 12:40 p.m., arrives 3:00 p.m.
VPS → Boston (Flight #1782): Departs 3:55 p.m., arrives 7:51 p.m.
New York (JFK) → VPS (Flight #2011): Departs 7:00 a.m., arrives 9:08 a.m.
VPS → New York (Flight #2012): Departs 10:00 a.m., arrives 1:38 p.m.
Flights will run from March through late May 2026, aligning with the region’s busy spring and early summer travel seasons.
To celebrate the launch, JetBlue is offering limited-time one-way fares starting at $49. The sale runs through November 9, 2025, for travel between March 5 and May 20, 2026, on select days of the week. Blackout dates apply in early and mid-April, coinciding with peak travel demand periods.
The addition of Destin–Fort Walton Beach follows several other recent JetBlue expansions in Florida, including new routes to Vero Beach and Daytona Beach. The airline now serves or plans to serve nearly 50 destinations from Florida airports.
Florida has been a cornerstone of JetBlue’s network since its earliest days. The airline’s first Florida destination was Fort Lauderdale, which remains a major operational hub and training base. JetBlue’s Orlando operations have also grown, serving as both a flight base and a maintenance and support campus.
The new Destin–Fort Walton Beach service is part of JetBlue’s “JetForward” strategy, an initiative aimed at strengthening the airline’s East Coast leisure network and enhancing connectivity between key markets. The airline expects the new routes to attract both leisure and business travelers while contributing to continued tourism growth in Northwest Florida.
JetBlue will also continue expanding its Florida infrastructure. The airline plans to open a dedicated Mint® base in Fort Lauderdale in early 2026 for flight attendants working in its premium service cabins, reflecting its long-term commitment to Florida operations.
JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline® and a leading carrier in several key U.S. cities, including Boston, Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando, and San Juan. The airline serves more than 100 destinations across the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and Europe.
Travelers can book tickets and learn more at jetblue.com.
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