Well JetBlue seems to be feeling left out by all the merger talk, because they decided to announce a couple of new routes. Most airlines generally add new routes earlier in April or in late March, when they first upload the schedules. But JetBlue has waited till now to announce the new routes, allowing them to make a splash. Anyway, the new routes are dailies to both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando on Airbus A320 aircraft, and will first fly on November 17th.
JetBlue had this to say about the new service: "We welcome the Hartford community onboard for JetBlue's high-quality, value-oriented service between the Gateway of New England and Florida's sunny resorts, parks and beaches."
And they're right. Despite their relationship with Pratt & Whittney, Connecticut's largest employer, JetBlue isn't exactly going to draw a huge amount of business class traffic on these routes. But their high density A320s should draw the sun-seekers from the drab Northeast. Being the second largest airport in New England, routes out of Hartford should draw from the affluent 1 million+ metropolitan area. JetBlue is also offering connections to the following destinations:
Austin
Nassau
Cancun
Montego Bay
San Jose
Bogota
Santo Domingo
and every podunk little town you can think of in Puerto Rico
Really no surprises up there, except for maybe Austin. Though I doubt they'll get a lot of traffic to AUS, it makes sense because AUS is probably their strongest base after the focus cities.
Overall, Hartford was a good choice for JetBlue's 63rd destination and I hope to see more service there in the future.