JetBlue leading airport price slash

PORTLAND – Travelers using the Portland International Airport will see fare reductions of more than $100 on some routes when low-cost carrier JetBlue launches its new service on May 23.

Several airlines have slashed their fares to popular destinations in an effort to match JetBlue, according to the Sun Journal newspaper.

For example, a round-trip Portland-to-New York City fare currently runs $426 on Delta but will drop to $135 on May 24. Likewise, travelers headed to Orlando, Fla., on Continental will see fares reduced from $388 to $322, and travelers headed to San Diego on United will see their fares drop from $496 to $393.

“We are competitive in every market that we serve,” said Delta spokeswoman Gina Laughlin. “We’re constantly evaluating our fares.”

Jetport marketing manager Greg Hughes calls it “the JetBlue effect” – other airlines reduce their fares to compete with Jetblue.

“JetBlue has already done massive favors for the people traveling out of Portland, Maine,” Hughes said.

The Sun Journal looked at ticket prices for all five airlines flying round-trip to New York, Orlando and San Diego on April 26-28. It compared those to fares one month later, May 24-26, just after JetBlue starts service. Each trip left on a Wednesday and returned on a Friday.

The analysis noted some fare increases. Northwest Airlines’ fares went up between April and May, going from $527 to $577 for a flight to San Diego, for example. That’s $163 more than JetBlue’s San Diego fare.

A Northwest spokeswoman urged people not to read to much into the fares. It could have been that the cheaper seats were already sold.

Hughes said there could be benefits beyond price.

JetBlue offers larger planes and greater in-flight services, so other airlines may have to upgrade their services as well, he said.