JetBlue cancels MacArthur to Boston route ahead of launch
The airline had announced daily flights connecting the regional airport in Ronkonkoma to Boston Logan International, a move that many passengers had hoped would offer a more convenient alternative to navigating through New York City’s busier hubs.
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Travelers at Long Island MacArthur Airport were left disappointed this week after JetBlue abruptly canceled its planned route between Islip and Boston—just two days before the service was set to begin.
The airline had announced daily flights connecting the regional airport in Ronkonkoma to Boston Logan International, a move that many passengers had hoped would offer a more convenient alternative to navigating through New York City’s busier hubs.
“For people that have to drive around through the city and such, it would be a lot more convenient for them to fly straight through to Boston,” said Heather Steimle, of Ridge.
JetBlue cited low demand and broader economic concerns as the reason for scrapping the route. In a statement to News 12, the airline said, “We are cancelling our launch of this route because bookings have not met expectations. This is one of the steps we are taking to manage our business through softer-than-expected travel demand this year and economic uncertainty.”
The announcement came as a surprise to many in the travel industry.
“I see it as a little bit of a shock that they pulled out of this,” said Matthew Kondrup, with Matty K Travel Group. “We’re not seeing that revenge travel we saw in 2021, 2022, but we are still seeing a steady amount of clients booking.”
Despite the setback, town officials remain optimistic about the airport’s trajectory. They say Long Island MacArthur Airport has continued to perform well financially and operationally through the first quarter of 2025.
Passengers who had already booked flights to Boston through JetBlue now have two options: request a full refund or be rebooked on a flight out of JFK airport.
