First read is on us.

Subscribe today to keep up with the latest travel industry news.

JetBlue’s arrival in Florida city weighed heavily on community


Skift Take

Getting an airline such as JetBlue to agree to service an airport is a big deal for smaller cities, but JetBlue wants to ensure it isn't flying into a hornet's nest of opposition.

A letter-writing campaign spearheaded by critics of the Naples Municipal Airport appears to have contributed to JetBlue’s decision to halt talks with airport officials.

The commercial airliner, which flies to 71 destinations worldwide, announced its decision Friday. It comes four days after Naples officials travelled to JetBlue headquarters in New York to discuss a possible deal and four months after talks began.

“We’re suspending the process until a consensus is reached on airline service to the airport,” JetBlue spokeswoman Allison Steinberg wrote in an email. “A positive reception from the community is a key factor in our evaluation of new cities.”

 

Up Next