JetBlue landing in Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – JetBlue, a New York-based discount carrier, said Wednesday it will offer daily nonstop service between Portland and New York City’s JFK Airport beginning May 17.

Similar flights between Seattle and New York City will start June 17.

There currently is no nonstop service between Portland and New York, although some 245,000 Portland passengers flew to New York City last year.

Westbound flights will leave JFK at 7:55 p.m. New York time and arrive in Portland at 10:59 p.m.

The eastbound flight will leave Portland at 11:59 p.m. and get into JFK at 8:15 a.m.

"This is an exciting new development for our community," said Bill Wyatt, executive director for the Port of Portland. He said it would expand the number of visitors from the East Coast to Oregon and southwest Washington.

After introductory fares of $99 each way, regular one-way fares will range from $124 to $299.

JetBlue operates 71 Airbus A320 planes and has 292 flights a day, flying to 30 cities in 12 states, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas.

The airline was one of only a few to show a profit last year, with income of $47.5 million on revenues of $1.27 billion.