September 8, 2026 – My window to the United States has closed; at least, the window through which I preferred to travel.
Today, September 8, JetBlue Airways ends its scheduled service between New York and Antigua and Barbuda, bringing an 11-year direct connection with the important New York tourism and diaspora market to a close.
Yesterday, I took what would be my final JetBlue flight, using the miles I had accumulated over the years. It was more than the conclusion of another journey. For me, it marked the end of an era filled with deeply personal memories.
JetBlue carried my son and me into his university life. With few exceptions, it remained our carrier of choice throughout those university years and for my own visits and sojourns in the United States since then.
It was always a delight: comfortable, dependable and, thankfully, largely uneventful. JetBlue became my preferred way to fly, not simply because of the service, but because of the role it played in so many important chapters of our lives.
There was comfort in knowing that a familiar aircraft, on a familiar route, could take me directly between home and New York. That connection represented more than convenience. It was access to family, education, opportunity, and the Antiguan and Barbudan diaspora in the United States.
The airline began serving Antigua in 2015. Its final scheduled arrival, Flight B6743 from John F. Kennedy International Airport, touched down at the V.C. Bird International Airport today.
The airline is cutting several routes as it redirects aircraft to expand its Fort Lauderdale operations. That may make perfect commercial sense for JetBlue, but for Antigua and Barbuda, losing this direct service matters.
New York is a critical gateway for our tourism industry and home to a significant section of our diaspora. Reliable air access is therefore not merely about moving visitors. It supports families, businesses, students, returning nationals and the many personal connections that link our small island state to the wider world.
Tourism officials have indicated that they will continue working with airline partners to maintain and strengthen air access from North America. That effort must remain a priority.
For now, however, this is my personal farewell to JetBlue. Thank you for the miles, the memories, and the many safe, uneventful journeys. Thank you for carrying my son and me into an important new chapter of his life and remaining part of our story long after that first university flight.