Greater Ronkonkoma coverage is funded in part by The Core Station Yards, now leasing brand-new apartment homes in Ronkonkoma. Click here to book your in-person tour today.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with comments from the Town of Islip, the operators of Long Island MacArthur Airport
JetBlue has canceled its planned new route from Long Island to Boston — just two days before the inaugural flight.
According to Newsday, the airline pulled the plug on the service on Monday from Long Island MacArthur Airport to Boston Logan International Airport. Greater Long Island confirmed the cancellation with an ISP spokesperson.
No official reason has been publicly given for why the route was dropped before takeoff. However, the Town of Islip, which operates the airport, pointed to broader economic challenges that are currently impacting the aviation industry.
“The Islip team has been watching economic indicators that historically affect the aviation industry,” the town said in a statement. “Most notably, consumer confidence has decreased, discretionary credit card spending is declining, and the total cost of leisure travel i.e., hotel and airfare is up.”
Still, MacArthur Airport has shown strong performance overall, according to the town. “Through Q1 2025, Long Island MacArthur Airport has been a regional leader in performance and profitability for our air carrier partners,” said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter.
Carpenter noted that ISP saw a 13% increase in seat growth and a 20% increase in capacity with the launch of JetBlue’s service. The airline has already increased the frequency of two of its three inaugural destinations since debuting at MacArthur in October 2024. The airport also recently welcomed Avelo Airlines, which added service to three new destinations.
Originally announced in January, the Long Island-to-Boston route was expected to offer daily seasonal service through September, with a flight time of approximately 48 minutes.
JetBlue began operations at MacArthur Airport this fall. The airline currently offers daily service to Orlando (MCO) and four weekly flights to both Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Palm Beach (PBI). According to the airport’s website, Palm Beach flights run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, while Fort Lauderdale flights operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
JetBlue, founded in 1999, was headquartered in Forest Hills, Queens, before relocating to Long Island City. It promotes itself as “New York’s Hometown Airline.” Today, JetBlue is the sixth-largest airline in the U.S. and the only major passenger airline based in New York.
JetBlue’s arrival at MacArthur Airport marked a milestone as the carrier continues to expand across the region.
MacArthur Airport itself has seen significant upgrades since 2016, with more than $100 million invested in planning and capital improvements. Recent projects include rehabilitated taxiways and runways, a new ground transportation center, a fire rescue building, and ongoing upgrades to mechanical, engineering, and plumbing systems.
Earlier this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul pledged $150 million in state money for infrastructure that would physically connect the Long Island Rail Road’s Ronkonkoma station to a proposed north terminal at the airport. The money would help pay for a pedestrian walkway between the train station and the airport. Read more below.
More ISP news
Top: JetBlue is set to expand its service between Long Island MacArthur Airport and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Courtesy photo)
