JetBlue announced Thursday it will begin flying nonstop to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport starting March 5, 2026, connecting the Emerald Coast to Boston and New York.

• The airline will operate five weekly seasonal flights from both Boston Logan International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Airports Director Tracy Stage announced the new service at a press conference Thursday morning at the airport.

“Today marks another exciting chapter in our airport’s growth story and in the future of air travel for all of Northwest Florida,” Stage said. “Growth of VPS directly fuels the local economy supporting growing businesses, our military partners, tourism, hospitality, and thousands of jobs across Okaloosa County.”

To celebrate the launch, JetBlue is offering introductory fares starting at $49 one-way, available only on jetblue.com. The promotional fares must be booked by Nov. 9 for travel between March 5 and May 20, 2026, with certain blackout dates in April.

“Florida continues to be a place where JetBlue’s combination of great service and value resonates strongly with travelers,” said Dave Jehn, JetBlue’s vice president of network planning and airline partnerships. “By adding Destin-Fort Walton Beach to our map, we’re bringing more choices to customers in Boston and New York while opening the door for Emerald Coast residents to connect easily to the Northeast and beyond.”

Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon welcomed the new service.

• “We want to welcome JetBlue to Destin-Fort Walton Beach and all the passengers they will bring, both business and pleasure to experience the natural beauty of Northwest Florida,” Mixon said. “We look forward to seeing their success at VPS and appreciate all of the efforts it took to get them here.”

The Boston flight will depart at 12:40 p.m. and arrive at 3 p.m., with the return flight leaving at 3:55 p.m. and arriving at 7:51 p.m. The New York flight will depart at 7 a.m. and arrive at 9:08 a.m., with the return leaving at 10 a.m. and arriving at 1:38 p.m.

The addition of Destin-Fort Walton Beach expands JetBlue’s growing presence in Florida. The airline has announced plans to launch service to Vero Beach and Daytona Beach next month and has announced more than 30 new Florida routes this year.

Travelers on the new routes will have access to JetBlue’s amenities, including free high-speed Wi-Fi on every aircraft, live television seatback entertainment at every seat, and complimentary snacks and drinks.

The new service is part of JetBlue’s JetForward strategy, which includes building its East Coast leisure network. The airline now serves or plans to serve nearly 50 destinations from Florida.

Okaloosa County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel said the timing of the new service coincides with America 250 celebrations.

“This is a carrier that will be able to take us directly to several large cities – Boston and New York – just in time for America 250 as we celebrate the birth of our nation, and a lot of people want to go to Boston, Philadelphia, and New York because we have the Statue of Liberty, we have the home to our constitution,” Ketchel said. “I think this carrier will be successful in bringing people to our beautiful area. At the same time, I expect it to open up other corners in the state of Florida, which is very exciting.”