Jetblue began its new three daily nonstop flights to Houston’s Hobby Airport today. For the inauguration of service, they are offering a $79 fare, or $99 with onward connections. Regular fares will begin at $117.
Hobby Airport was built as Houston’s primary airport and remained that until 1969, when Intercontinental Airport was opened. Hobby remains as a secondary airport, mostly used by low-fare carriers. In indirect competition with Jetblue, ATA operates service from Hobby to LaGuardia. After its bankruptcy bailout by Southwest, Southwest often codeshares on their flight. Southwest is the largest carrier at Hobby Airport.
Jetblue made public its intention to fly to another Southwest stronghold, its headquarters, Love Field in Dallas, if the Wright Amendment ever permitted them to. The Wright Amendment limits the destinations served from Love Field.
Also today, Jetblue announced its August traffic grew 11.6 percent with a capacity expansion of 20.1 percent. Revenue growth was below their expectation. Part of this failure to meet expectations is attributed to to security concerns after the British terror incidents, and Tropical Storm Ernesto affecting Florida service.