New York-based JetBlue will axe its service to Bonaire, a Caribbean island in the Leeward Antilles. The airline, which offers the route currently year-round, will suspend its flights from New York JFK to Flamingo Airport, Bonaire (BON), on January 3. The move, which will see the airline axe its only route to Bonaire after just 14 months, will see the airline completely exit the airport.
The route was supported with additional services to all of the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao), and will leave American Airlines (Miami), Delta Air Lines (Atlanta), and United Airlines (Houston and Newark) as the sole US operators to the airport.
Non-Stop To Bonaire
Using data from Flightradar24, JetBlue offers a direct link to Bonaire from JFK once weekly on Saturdays, onboard an Airbus A320 seating up to 162 passengers across a multiple-class configuration. The outbound service departs from 
New York JFK Airport as B6 1643, pushing back from the gate at 08:05 for the just over four-hour journey to the Leeward Antilles. The flight touches down at the uniquely cute name, Flamingo International Airport (BON), at 12:54. Flamingo International, which is also known as Bonaire International Airport, is located near Kralendijk, the capital and main community on the island.
Return flights operate as B6 1644, departing from Bonaire at 13:59 each Saturday, for the four-hour trip home. The flights have a scheduled arrival time back to New York of 18:43. A quick search of the JetBlue website identifies that a return ticket in early December for a week would cost $390 in Blue, which includes a free carry-on bag, and permits changes and cancellations.
Simple Flying reached out to JetBlue for more details on its plans to axe the service; however, we did not immediately receive a response by the time this article was published.
JetBlue Flights To The ABC Islands
As already mentioned, JetBlue currently operates flights to all three of the Leeward Islands (also known as the Dutch Antilles and ABC Islands). While it is unconfirmed, AirlineGeeks suggested that JetBlue’s plan to exit the Bonaire market could be due to a cost-cutting exercise, as the airline looks to suspend unprofitable routes.
JetBlue has a strong presence in Aruba, operating to the island’s Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) from Boston, New York JFK, and Newark year-round. Additional services are set to be added from Fort Lauderdale on December 13. The neighboring Curaçao International Airport welcomes JetBlue flights direct from New York JFK.
Bonaire International Airport is the home of Z Air, a small regional airline at the airport, and also an Air Ambulance Provider. It has a fleet of Embraer ERJ140LR, Learjet 31A, Learjet 35A, and Saab A340, providing scheduled flights to Aruba, Baranquilla, Curaçao, and Medellín-JMC. Other international operators at BON include Air Century (seasonal to Santo Domingo), Correndon Dutch Airlines (Amsterdam), Divi Divi Air (Curacao), KLM (Amsterdam), Westjet (seasonal to Toronto Pearson), and Winair (Curacao and Sint Maarten).
JetBlue’s Caribbean Network
As analyzed by Simple Flying last month, the airline’s top route is between New York JFK and 
Los Angeles International Airport, with in September, an average of 11 daily departures operating on the city pair. This accumulates to a total of 282 across the month. The airline maintains a 33% market share on the route. Its second most popular route is New York JFK to Boston, with between seven to 10 daily flights, with a 45% market share and 244 scheduled flights across the month.
From New York JFK, JetBlue maintains a robust network of flights to the Caribbean, and Latin America, with flights to Aguadilla, Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Belize City, Bonaire, Cancún, Cartagena, Curaçao, Georgetown–Cheddi Jagan, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Guatemala City, Guayaquil, Kingston–Norman Manley, Liberia (CR), Montego Bay, Nassau, Port-au-Prince, Port of Spain, Providenciales, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, St. Kitts, St. Lucia–Hewanorra, St. Maarten, St. Vincent–Argyle, San José (CR), San Juan, San Pedro Sula, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo–Las Américas, Ponce, and Tulum.
Travel to the Dutch Caribbean remains a popular choice for American tourists, due to its proximity to the United States, but also its unique culture and beautiful beaches. The islands are outside the dreaded hurricane belt, and even Aruba International Airport is home to US Preclearance facilities, enabling American-bound passengers the chance to pre-clear US immigration before boarding their flight home.
