JetBlue adds Puerto Rico flights at Palm Beach International Airport

At 8:50 Tuesday morning, a new flight took off, shuttling Palm Beach County travelers to San Juan, Puerto Rico for the first time.

 

JetBlue added the new flight with a ceremonial celebration at Palm Beach International Airport, complete with water cannons along the runway to shower the plane as it takes off for its first flight.

 

The Palm Beach County Visitors Bureau reports the new flight will mean a big economic boost. It predicts the daily flight will bring 15,000 additional hotel guests, and 20,000 room nights to the county. The direct impact is estimated at about $7 million.

 

This is the fourth new non-stop flight that's been added to the daily schedule in 2012.  JetBlue added an additional flight to New York City and an inaugural flight to Hartford, Connecticut.  Air Canada added a flight to Toronto.